Life — October 24, 1907 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 486 The page contains an editorial cartoon and accompanying text criticizing Bishop Henry Doane's opposition to divorce. The cartoon depicts a scale of justice weighted unevenly, symbolizing the imbalance in marriage law. The text references a recent General Episcopal Convention where Bishop Doane rejected a proposal to allow the Episcopal Church to perform remarriage ceremonies for divorced persons. The editorial argues against Doane's position, suggesting his view that nine of ten marriages are unhappy is exaggerated and that divorce, while sometimes necessary, shouldn't be categorically forbidden by the Church. The satire critiques religious institutional rigidity on marriage and divorce—a progressive stance for the early 20th century advocating secular rather than purely ecclesiastical judgment on these matters.