Question: what is the purpose of the war prayer

title: The War Prayer
text: `` The War Prayer '' was written in 1905 , and is believed to be a response to both the Spanish -- American War and the subsequent Philippine -- American War . It was left unpublished by Mark Twain at his death in April 1910 , largely due to pressure from his family , who feared that the story would be considered sacrilegious . Twain 's publisher and other friends also discouraged him from publishing it . According to one account , his illustrator Dan Beard asked him if he would publish it anyway , and Twain replied , `` No , I have told the whole truth in that , and only dead men can tell the truth in this world . It can be published after I am dead . '' Mindful of public reaction , he considered that he had a family to support and did not want to be seen as a lunatic or fanatic . `` The War Prayer '' was finally published in 1923 anthology Europe and Elsewhere . David