Life, 1928-11-02 · page 38 of 48
Life — November 2, 1928 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains editorial commentary by E.S. Martin on the 1928 U.S. presidential election, which featured Catholic Democratic nominee Alfred Smith against Protestant Republican Herbert Hoover. Martin discusses two competing religious controversies: anti-Catholic sentiment favoring Hoover, and Methodist objections to Smith's Catholicism—particularly Methodist opposition to alcohol (relevant given Prohibition debates). The satire targets Methodist "meddlesomeness" in regulating personal behavior while noting the Catholic Church's refusal to tolerate criticism of itself. Martin characterizes Methodist founder John Wesley and Quaker George Fox as reformers, then pointedly notes Hoover (a Quaker) is "very unlike his disciple" Fox—implying Hoover hypocritically distances himself from his tradition's boldness. The piece questions whether Mormons (building a temple in Illinois) will face similar religious scrutiny, exposing the election's underlying sectarian tensions masked by constitutional rhetoric. The remainder of the page contains unrelated product advertisements.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFETIME GUARANTEE It Is, Indeed, The Surest Thing You Know OMPARE the Golden Wheel, flick for flick, with any other lighter. Then reflect that its superior smoothness and certainty are as- sured by the lifetime guarantee. Whether you buy alighter for your- self or for a gift—whether you pay $7.50 or very much more, you nat- urally expect to obtain the most for yourmoney. In Golden Wheel you getit. The smartest shops sell Golden Wheel Lighters ...in the exclusive Platichrome finish ... leathers . . . modern enamels... and in many charming gift sets. iq (GOLIDEN ) GC HIEIEIL V) The Lighter with the ifetime Guarantee U.S. Patents 1637855 and 16¢6809 Henry Lederer & Bro., Inc. Providence, R. I. LIFeE The Religious Issues Tere are two religious issues in the cam- paign, one Catholic, one Methodist. To object to Alfred Smith because he is a Catholic is widely held to be unconstitu- tional. Alfred himself protests against any- | body's saying he won't vote for him be- cause he is a Catholic. Mr. Hoover holds up his hands in horror at the idea of anti-Catholic activities favoring his elec- tion, One of the objections to the Methodists is that so many of them are anti-Catholic, but the great objection is that they are so violently anti-rum and so terribly com- mitted to regulating people’s habits and manner of life, If the Catholics were any- thing like as meddlesome and as openty political as the Methodists, Heaven knows what would happen to them, but probably something would at least be said in depre- cation of their activities. The religion of these various sects is the Christian religion filtered through the minds of various remarkable leaders. The Methodists get their line of piety through John Wesley, an astonishing man and a great reformer, but very meddle- some indeed and committed to the idea of prescribed standards of deportment. The Quakers got their light through George Fox, another astonishing man on intimate terms with the invisible world, and one of the boldest-spoken persons who ever trod the earth, in which par- ticular he was very unlike his disciple, Herbert Hoover. The Roman Catholic Church is more than a thousand years older than the Quakers or the Methodists and picked up its spiritual apparatus here and there, be- ginning, no doubt, with St. Paul. It has had lots of prophets and platoons of saints, and no single one of them has given it its present color. One great virtue the Methodists have— they stand up to discussion and do not mind criticism. The Catholics like neither: they don't wish to discuss; they resent it very much if anybody finds fault with them, They practice to make everyone take his hat off and bow his head when he speaks of the Catholic Church. That is why a great many people are afraid of the Catholics and are not afraid of the Methodists. You can have it out with a Methodist and though he may think it unconstitutional, he won't say it’s blasphemous, but you cannot do it with Catholics. Their religion is sacrosanct. How is it going to be with the Mor- mons? They have bought land and are building a temple at Nauvoo in Illinois, where their Prophet made a stay and tried to settle. What are they going to do? Will it be catch-as-catch-can with them as it is with the Methodists, or will they feel that nobody's religion should be discussed in public? E. S. Martin. th roat irritation . cooling Soothing refreshing “We had our own turkey to carve” Dos'r tell me, my boy, that I can't carve aturkey. I did it—last year! The biggest, fattest, plumpest bird this side of the Mississippi. What's more, I'm going to do it again this year, We're here for the holidays— over Thanksgiving. . . . Funny, I expected the weather to be rough, but it’s as crisp and clear as you'd want. An afternoon walk nowadays certainly puts the finishing touches on a large appetite! ne Thanksgiving reservations should be* made early... Further information is contained in a booklet which et will gladly send you. HALFONTE~ ADDON HAIL ATLANTIC CITY American Plan Legps ano Liprincorr CompaxY comicbooks.com ” 4@/