Puck — August 20, 1879 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Puck satirical illustration critiques Freemasonry through grotesque imagery. The title "The Mummery of Masonry" (visible at bottom) suggests the cartoonist views Masonic rituals as theatrical pretense or deception. The page depicts mysterious robed figures, an eye symbol (the "all-seeing eye" associated with Masonic symbolism), and dramatic scenes suggesting secret ceremonies. The large "THUMP" text and surreal composition convey mockery of what the cartoonist sees as absurd ritual theater. The imagery appeals to period anti-Masonic sentiment—common in late 19th/early 20th-century America—which viewed Freemasonry's secrecy and fraternal oaths with suspicion and hostility. The satire ridicules both Masonic secrecy and the public's fascination with hidden societies, suggesting the "mummery" (foolish performance) underlying Masonic mystique.