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The Hattiesburg News
Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Perry County, Mississippi
What is this article about?
In a June 8, 1909, letter from Hattiesburg, Mort L. Bixler critiques Michael O'Brien's oration on McShan's death, accusing him of Mormon-influenced attacks on community laws and morals, and poses questions on family and religion to guide him toward chivalry and rectitude.
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Hattiesburg, June 8, 1909.
Mr. Editor.
In the open court of your issue of the 2nd inst. under the head of "Why Make Laws," I chanced upon a funeral oration by one Michael O'Brien over the untimely death of his friend, McShan.
This was only natural in a friend, when regrets were the unanimous expression of the community in which it occurred and in which he was a stranger.
Yet were comments allowed upon this occasion, I would remark that the burden of his lamentations rest more upon his denunciations of this community than upon the virtues of his friend. That from his meanderings I am unable to decide whether his grouch is the after Mormon tendencies acquired while he drew his inspiration, or grounded in Mormon tendencies, acquired while going through Utah, which would naturally cause him to wish the abolition of all law institutions and power that could in any way interfere with the propagation of the doctrine of free love, by such disciples as have heretofore been rotten-egged from the state of Mississippi.
If I have misjudged and wronged the gentleman by my remarks, and in truth the query is an honest cry of a benighted soul for enlightenment up this most vital question, I will cheerfully undertake to set him upon that high road of chivalry that leads to the temple of moral rectitude from which was issued the unwritten law. Provided he will answer the following questions (not with other questions).
Are you married?
Do you believe the family to be the first and oldest institution on earth?
Does the teachings of Christianity tend to raise the moral standard
Have you any religion?
What kind?
But if this man only takes advantage of the Open Court to endeavor to slander a community which still has the nerve to declare to the world its undying faith in the sanctity of the home (however humble) as the rock upon which rest the glorious civilization of which we are all proud to boast, he will be more apt to find happiness in the shades of an African wilderness than in the civilized haunts of man, where dwell the noble sentiments of love and honor, in the glow of a hope for a brighter world and a higher existence. For such an existence.
For such
a
MORT L. BIXLER, Secretary
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
Mort L. Bixler, Secretary
Recipient
Mr. Editor
Main Argument
criticizes michael o'brien's funeral oration for mcshan as more denunciatory of the community than laudatory of his friend, attributing o'brien's views to mormon influences and advocacy for free love; offers moral enlightenment via questions on marriage, family, christianity, and religion if o'brien responds honestly.
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