Lietuvių švietimo draugijų padėtis panaikinus spaudos draudimą

Abstract

After cancelling a ban on the Lithuanian press, when the „Temporary Rules Concerning Societies and Unions“ had been declared, the Lithuanian education societies were founded, which strove for the turning of the cultural life of the Lithuanian nation away from the lagging behind, which was determined by the Czar’s despotic policy. The first Lithuanian educational societies „Saulė“ and „Žiburys“ were established by priesthood. The „Šviesa“ and the „Vilniaus Aušra“ under the guidance of secular intelligentsia were founded too, but the societies existed only one year. At the height of the revolutionary events, the societies partly easily succeeded in receiving the permissions for libraries, evening courses and schools foundations. The society „Saulė“ had established a little more schools, because in these schools the main subjects were taught in Russian. The pedagogical courses which used to qualify the Lithuanian teachers were especially important. The Lithuanian language dominated in the schools of the society „Žiburys“, the Lithuanian language used for teaching was the main reason why the Girl’s pro-gymnasium of Marijampolė. could not develop into Gymnasium. In the beginning of the 20th century, the contradictions which arose among various political trends, were noticeable in the activity of the societies, too. The most vivid contradictions were between the „Šviesa“, the secular society which had functioned in the Suvalkai Province, and the Catholic „Žiburys“. But the idea of the national revival and the striving for dessemination of the native language had united all the societies. Therefore, in the activity of cultural organizations representatives of various Lithuanian political parties collaborated. Declared rules and laws concerning activities in field of culture and education had been couched in such a way that the Czar’s government had a possibility to administer and persecute the Lithuanian cultural and educational institutions. Representatives of Czar’s Administrations used to consider the Lithuanian educational societies a stimulator of the national movement, therefore, in various ways, they tried to interfere with the work of the societies. On certain pretexts, in September 1908, the Lithuanian secular educational societies „Šviesa“ and „Viniaus Aušra“ were closed down. The Catholic societies, however managed to obtain an assistance of some officers of local authority and to found a way out of these difficult situations. The societies were supplied with the assistance of the leaders of the Church hierarchy.