In his decision Judge Dwight said:

"This case, although not involving a large amount in dollars and cents is, in some respects, one of importance and one in which a large number of persons seems to be deeply interested.

"The able manner in which the case has been conducted and the evidence presented to the court, both on the part of counsel for the complainants and for the defendants, indicate the great learning and research of able counsel in behalf of their clients.

"Although the interests involved ordinarily would engender some feeling, there appears to have been no manifestation of ill will between the parties during the progress of the trial.

"It is worthy of note that the character of citizenship of all the parties, as well as their adherents, commends them to our favor.

"Every one who has watched the progress of this case could not fail to have noticed the religious fervor that seemed to animate all the parties as they urged their respective claims or sat by and carefully noted the progress of the case in which they seemed to be so deeply interested.

"The taking of the evidence, consuming as it did nearly two weeks, unfolded the history of the Christian Church--a splendid organization--coming into existence perhaps a century ago, avoiding tiresome creeds and looking alone to the Bible as a guide in faith and practice.

"That church has grown and spread throughout the Union, and its faith and teachings find a response in the hearts of the people everywhere.

"This church was the only religious body, I believe, to have a headquarters upon the grounds of the World's Fair at St. Louis.

"In its earl organization, its mode of worship was much as it was in the church of apostolic times. It is represented as a monarchy. I do not like the term. To me Christ was the King, but his was a scriptural kingdom. His church upon earth has only the form of a monarchy.

"Christ, while upon the earth, went among the people without any effort at organization. He was not a product of the schools. As he walked beneath the palms of Palestine or along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he taught the people. His teaching were drawn from nature. Everything was an object lesson.

"So this church, founded a hundred years ago, was modeled apparently as was the church at Corinth and other places in the days of the apostles.

"As time progressed many of the churches of the faith gradually changed their mode of worship and the means employed; in other words, keeping abreast with all the changes that crowded into the religious world as well as every other sphere of life.

"The Sand Creek Church withstood all the 'innovations.'

"For seventy years that church has had an existence and during all that long lapse of time has continued its mode of worship in the same simple way as did the fathers when it was first established.

"It, as all other congregations of the brotherhood, is an independent body. It is responsible to no other ecclesiastical body; without dictation whatever from any source, that congregation may regulate its own affairs.

"A decided majority of that congregation have abided in the faith of their fathers in the simple mode of worship first adopted.

"However much we may prefer the modern methods adopted in forms of worship, one cannot but admire this people.

"A splendid community in this grand county of Shelby, who are able to turn aside from all 'innovations' and continue to worship their 'Lord and Master' as did the apostles in the early days of the church.

"The complainants [progressives--akg], a part of the congregation, seem to have grown dissatisfied with existing things. As a result this suit was begun.

"Of other congregations of this faith and brotherhood we have nothing to do, and the real question in this case is:

"Have the defendants departed from the faith?"

"Taking all things into consideration and with no sort of any personal feeling, and from all the evidence submitted and the able arguments of counsel, and with a keen desire to do right in this matter and to follow the law, I must come to the conclusion that they have not.

"The finding of the court will be for the defendants [conservatives--akg]. The bill will be dismissed for want of equity."