Life, 1921-12-29 · page 22 of 35
Life — December 29, 1921 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical comic strip mocking the proliferation of Protestant denominations in early 20th-century America. The protagonist, Timmie, systematically joins a different Christian church every Sunday—Methodist, Episcopalian, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterian, Quaker, Collegiate, Congregational, Baptist, Lutheran, and Universalist. The satire's point: despite theological differences, all these churches are functionally identical in practice, and Timmie exploits this by attending each one, receiving a Christmas present from each congregation. The joke critiques both the fragmentation of American Christianity into competing sects and the sentimental materialism of church charity. The title "Here Endeth the First Lesson" is ironic—the real lesson isn't religious instruction but rather how to game the system through religious shopping.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Here Endeth the First Lesson 1 About three months before Christmas,Timmie decided to join the Methodist Church Sunday 2 The following Sunday he joined the Episcopalian Sunday School 4. The ensuing Sunday he belonged tothe Dutch Reform Church S Im the same townwasa Presbyterian Church So Timmie joined 6. Seven days later he founda Quaker Church — Made Friends. 7 Another Sunday he espied a.Collegiate Church and immediately jomed. 8. After which he became amember of the Congregational Church 9 The Baptist Church showed him every Kindness 10 Inthe Lutheran Sunday School Timmie was a great help to the teacher 11 Just before Christmas he arrived at the Universalist Church In timeto enroll with the Sunday School. 12 With the result that each gave him a Christmas present. comicbooks.com