Life, 1911-07-06 · page 31 of 44
Life — July 6, 1911 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical short story mocking the commercialization of religion and the compromises of modern Protestant ministers. **The Satire:** A wealthy New York parish recruits an acclaimed Western preacher by offering him an extraordinarily comfortable deal: no parish visits, syndicated sermons, newspaper promotion, guaranteed salary *plus* commission on fundraising, insider stock tips, and—most absurdly—a guaranteed heresy trial within a year to boost book sales. **The Point:** The joke exposes how 1920s organized religion had become a business venture. Ministers are treated like celebrities or salesmen; spiritual concerns have been replaced by marketing, royalties, and Wall Street connections. The punchline—that a heresy trial would help book sales—reveals the ultimate inversion: even doctrinal controversy becomes a commercial opportunity. **Context:** This reflects genuine anxieties about mainline Protestantism's increasing entanglement with consumer culture and capitalism during the Jazz Age. The page also contains period advertisements (Swan Safety fountain pen, Detroit Electric cars, motor signal) unrelated to the cartoon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Isthe only vacation pen. Itmaybe carried in any position without leak- ing,and when opened writes smoothly without | blotsorskips. Ata//station- ersand jewelers, Prices $2.s0and up MABIE, TODD & CO. 17 Maden Lact “Will you accept a Two leading membe the vestry of a leading New York parish sat in the study of a young Western preacher, who had come to have a reputation for his preaching which had extended be- yond the limits of his own locality. “You wish me,” he said, “to come on to New York and accept the charge of your church there?” do 1 have to make any parish calls? “Certainly not, si In New York no one has any ti for that sort of thing.” have to preach from the RULY the Car for sum- mer /uxury and coolness is the Detroit Electric. Drive it anywhere — perfectly Particularly the Detroit shaded —windows open and the F! etre because it’s the “Can I syndicate my sermons through- breeze blowing through. refinement of sues, H the country?” a Starts with She turn of ak ‘o be sure. We expect it Its operation is so free from heat And the handsomeerelec: and throb—so silent, smooth and _ tic on the roads. restful— that you'll welcome its ; use on the most he: S Dire Statt Deve And onsummer nights—home Fewer parts — silent- from town—through leafy sub- ning. No concealed urban driveways — paint your snaioa Vacumatic of . ays aint y Motz Cushion tires. Bat- own picture —the Detroit Elec- te dison, Ironclad, tric will realize it! Detroit or Exide. Anderson Electric Car Company 435 Clay Ave., Detroit, Mich. Beanches: New York, Beosdway at G 80th Sereet; Chicago, 2416 Michigan Ave: Kantes City, Buffalo, Cleve Minneapolis and Brooklyn. “Oh, no—that has long since gone out.” “Will you make arrangements for me with a leading firm of publisher: “All that has been done already. You get an extra royalty.” “Vill all newspaper clippings about me be supplied free “Certainly. That is a detail that we always sce to. income on the commission basis or a straight salary?” “Both. We guarantee you ten thou- IT’S THE NATIONAL SIGNAL “Warns Without Offense”’ sand a year and give you ten per cent. ward anxiously. Good men were scarce Easy to attach—Easy to operate A pleasing tone—An insistent warning $7, $8, $9, $10, Complete DEALERS EVERYWHERE The Randall-Faichney Co. Write us today for Booklet 11 on Accessories you need for your car commission on all the collections you are able to get , “Do I get any inside Wall Street in- formation?” “Oh, yes. Two of our leading mer bers are Wall Street magnates and they will keep you rmed.” “Will picture be published in the At least once in every three months.” “1 will accept on one condition.” The members of the vestry leaned for- x” and they realized that they couldn't af- ford to let this one get away. “And that?” “That I be tried for heresy within a year. And they both replied joyfully : “Certainly, sir. And if this doesn't help you to sell at least fifty thousand copies of the book we hear you are writing, we miss our guess.” The contract was then signed mutual felicitations. CT, comicbooks.com