Judge — February 27, 1926 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes religious hypocrisy, specifically targeting the "High Church" tradition within Anglicanism. A rotund clergyman labeled "CHURCHYARD GOSSIP" kneels in prayer while demons and devils swarm above him, labeled "PROHIBITION." The figure appears to be a caricature of church leadership engaged in what the cartoonist views as corrupt or hypocritical behavior. The satire suggests that prominent religious figures preach morality (particularly Prohibition—the alcohol ban) while engaging in gossip, scandal, or other vices. The demons attacking the praying figure imply these are the consequences of such hypocrisy. This reflects broader early-20th-century American skepticism about religious authority and institutional integrity, particularly regarding Prohibition's enforcement and the gap between religious rhetoric and actual conduct.