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session of 1864 E. H. Davis, a member of the Aurora
church, and one of the best clerks the Association ever
had, in the Circular letter recites some of the causes
that have made the Association what it is:
"In briefly reviewing the history of Laughery Bap-
tist Association we may be profited by discovering the
sources from which our fathers derived the power
to achieve such signal success in building up the cause
of Christ; and in discovering this we may ascertain
the causes of our failures, not only to maintain the
degree of prosperity which they left us, but in not
pressing forward to the achievement of new and
greater conquests over the opposing forces of satan
and the world. It is true that they were men of sound
judgment, strong common sense and some of them
were possessed of more than ordinary attainments as
ministers of Jesus Christ. These requisites of them-
selves, combined with an unusual degree of industry
and perseverance, would have made them an almost
invincible power for the accomplishment of good. But
these qualities, however important a part they may
have borne, were not the elements of success which en-
abled them to bring the power of the gospel within the
knowledge of so many. They were men of God; and
to the influence which they exerted by their godly
lives and holy walk, was added an inflexible and un-
compromising fidelity to the doctrine of Jesus Christ,
which they pressed home upon the consciences of men
--not merely for their intellectual assent, but as the
only means through which they could be cleansed
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from the power of sin and enjoy the favor of God.
At the session in 1825 the Indian Creek church
asked: "Should a church grant a letter to a mem-
ber to unite with a church of another denomination?"
The answer was, "No." In 1842 three of the most
active and influential ministers in the Association were
called from their earthly labors to their eternal rest--
Elders Jesse L. Holman, Thomas Curtis and John
W. Givan. Elder Ezra Ferris was asked to preach
a discourse commemorative of their many good and
great qualities.
Somewhat out of line with our present church
polity the Association at the close of the session of
1823 celebrated the Lord's supper. At the session
in 1876 the minds of all being naturally turned to the
history of our country as well as to denominational
progress, Judge William S. Holman, in the Circular
letter, reviewed the distinctive principles of Baptists,
and emphasized the fact that we were the first advo-
cates of freedom of conscience, as is acknowledged by
such men as Judge Story and John Locke.
In 1899 there were thirteen churches in the Asso-
ciation and the total membership was 1,438. At the
present time (1907) there are fifteen churches and
1,791 members; Aurora is the largest church--mem-
bership 503.
Foremost among the ministers of the Association,
by odds, was Reverend and Honorable Jesse L. Hol-
man. He was born near Danville, Kentucky, Octo-
ber 22d, 1783. His father moved from Virginia to
