Mykolas Ksaveras Mockus

Michael X. Mockus (October 26, 1864 – October 23, 1939) was a Lithuanian-American philosopher and former Unitarian minister. Mockus is remembered for having been convicted in nationally publicized trials for having violated archaic Connecticut and Maine state laws prohibiting blasphemy as a result of his public challenges of certain points of Christian orthodox religious belief.

Biography Mykolas Ksaveras Mockevičius was born on October 26, 1864, in Ramanavas, Lithuania. In 1886, he emigrated to United States and Americanized his name as Michael Xavier Mockus. Initially he worked at coal mines then at a cement factory in Detroit, Michigan. There he bought a small press and published Lithuanian and Polish brochures and booklets. He became active in various Lithuanian-American societies. He toured various Lithuanian communities delivering speeches and sermons. The speeches were highly controversial and attracted large crowds. The churchgoers would attempt to disrupt the meetings with measures ranging from catcalls to threats of violence. The police would get involved on the basis that Mockus was speaking without a permit, disturbing the peace, or inciting to anarchy, but he would escape more serious charges on the basis of free speech. He was charged with blasphemy under the 1821 affirmation of the 1642 blasphemy law. The law provided the maximum sentence of one-year imprisonment and a $100 fine. He lost the appeal, but never served the sentence.