Judge — April 11, 1885 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon critiques religious hypocrisy regarding leisure activities. The image shows various religious denominations (Methodist, Salvation Army, and others visible in signage) gathered around what appears to be a roller rink—a popular entertainment venue that religious conservatives opposed as sinful. The cartoon's central joke: these churches preach "Freedom of Worship" while simultaneously condemning roller rinks as dens of wickedness. The figures holding collection plates suggest clergy exploiting moral panic about the rink to solicit donations from parishioners. This reflects early 20th-century tensions between traditional religious institutions and modern commercial entertainment. Judge magazine used this to mock religious establishments for selective morality—defending their own freedom while restricting others' innocent pleasures. The satire targets clerical sanctimoniousness and institutional greed masked as moral guardianship.