Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-10
NEWS OF DEATH CASTS
GLOOM OVER GATHERING
Rev. j. D. Hank, Venerable Member
of Body. Passes Away at Gilmerton
COMMITTEE on Examinations
Meets-Bshop Morrison Said to Be-
Iieve in Frequent "Shake-ups."

With Bishop H. c. Morrison. OF
birmingham. Ala, in the chair, me
enc hundred and twentyseventh an
uual conference of the Virginia Meth
odist Episcopal church. South, VIII
convene at the Trinity Methodist
church in this city this morning al
$50 o'clock.
About three hundred OF the dele
gates to the conference have already
arrived in the city and have been as
signed to their various homes, and II
is expected that the entire quota Oh
delegates will be here this morning IN
time To- attend the opening session oil
the conference.
Sad News Received.
Gloom was cast over the delegates
last night by the news of the death OF
Rev. ]. ID. Hank, well known mem
Der of the conference, who passed
away yesterday afternoon at O'CLOCK
at his home in Gilmerton.
Rev. Mr. Hank entered the confer
ence in 1857. and had served as pas
tor and presiding elder. At the time
merton and Brighton charge.
Entertainment Committee Busy.
The entertainment committee, con-
sistlng of Rev. E. T. Dadmun, OF
Trinity church: Rev. J. J. Bradford,
of Chestnut Avenue church. and Rev.
II. w. Dunkley. of Grace church. TO-
eether with Messrs. T. J. Barham, J.
Il. Boggs, ]. II. Christie, w. Z. Cot
trell. J. V. Borum, Chester Ashby'
III. ID Branning. NJ. S. Llewellyn and
w. c. Harris were very busy all day
yesterday directing the arriving dele
gates to their places of entertainment
and attending to other details in con-
nection with the preliminary work oil
the conference. One very attractive
and convenient product Of the
entertainment committees WORK
is the directory of the confer
cnce. which was issued to the dele
gates last night This directory gives
the name of each delegates TO the
conference. and with list of those
who will be their hosts during the
time of the gathering. The pamphlet
also contains q full list OF the officers
boards and committees of the confer
eDce.
Inc committees having charge the
examination of undergraduate minis
ters. held their first meeting in the
class rooms of Trinity church last
night, and will report to the confer
eDce on their work
The conference is composed of 356
members. Of whom 800 are ministers
and clergymen from various parts OF
the state. There are As iaymen. The
present conference will be the Sec
ond one that has met in this city,
the first one meeting here in 1901,
with Bishop Duncan. now deceased, as
it's presiding officer.
The conference is one of the most
influential ecclesiastical bodies in the
SOrih. representing as it does a men,
hcrship Of 10000. with 7S5 church
cdiices. valued at total amount OF
s2e50.II9.
The secretary Of the conference is
Rev. Samuel 5. Lambeth. who has
been connected with that Office Tor
thirty seven years. for long time as
assistant secretary and for the past
two conferences as secretary. He will
have as his assistants Rev. n. Y. Lips
comb who was formerly pastor .
Trinity Methodist church in this city.
and Rev. Hugh 7. Paylcr. Of Norfolk
Administering Of Communion.
What probably viii he one 81 the
most impressive ceremonies OF the
entire Seseion viii BE- the administer
ing of the communion to the members
os the body tomorrow morning b.
Bishop Morrison. assisted b num-
her 81 the veteran c'ergymcn Of the
conference
Tho calling Of the annual roll Of the
. conference will reveal the fact thal
there arc six members missing who
were Present At The last conference,
the following clcrgymen having died
during the year. Rev. John Nichol-
son. Rev. J. " DcBerry. Rev. =. T.
Tsrrcl. Rev. J. J. Lafertv. Rev
Joseph W SbackfoTd. and Rev. W
c. Walden.
The opening sermon viii be preach.