Life — April 14, 1927 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration depicts early American colonial religious practice, dated to 1620 (likely referencing the Pilgrims' arrival). The image shows a group of colonists in period dress gathered in prayer or worship in a snowy wilderness setting, with crude structures visible in the background. The satire appears to contrast the *idealized* narrative of pious colonists establishing religious freedom with the *actual* harsh conditions and struggles they faced. By pairing the romantic historical date "1620" with the title "Divine Worship in America," the cartoonist likely critiques how American religious history is mythologized—presenting devout settlers engaged in noble spiritual practice while overlooking the realities of their difficult circumstances, or possibly mocking the gap between religious rhetoric and actual behavior in American society.