Paskutinis Lietuvių švietimo draugijos "Rytas" veiklos laikotarpis (1939-1940)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvių mokslo draugija; Lietuvių švietimo draugija "Rytas"; Lietuvių švietimo draugijos; Švietimo draugija „Rytas“; Lithuanian Educational Society "Rytas" ("Morning"); Lithuanian Scientific Society; Lithuanian education societies; Lithuanian education society „Rytas“.

EN“Žiburys”, “Saulė”, and “Rytas” societies, which began their activity in Lithuania - Suvalkija, Aukštaitija, and the Vilnius region - in the early 20th century, carried out a huge work in the field of Lithuanian education and the development of Lithuanian religious and national consciousness, and became important centres uniting the Lithuanian Catholic intellectual movement. On 29 November 1912 the Lithuanian education society “Rytas” was registered in St. Petersburg. Its aim was “to educate the Lithuanians of the Vilnius region according to the requirements of the teachings of Roman Catholic religion”. The society's constituent meeting took place in the deanery of the Church of All Saints on 31 January 1913. The society's anniversary commemorated in 2013 gives us an opportunity to correct certain mistakes that have become established in the press and are repeated by some researchers, particularly those related with the suppression of the society's activity and its liquidation in 1938. Therefore, the activity of “Rytas” society in 1939-1940, a period that is usually omitted by researchers, is analysed in greater detail in the present article. Already prior to 29 January 1938, when the starosta office of the city of Vilnius suppressed the activity of “Rytas” society, and 28 February 1938, when the Vilnius voivodeship closed it down, there were some attempts to destroy this centre of Lithuanian spirit - from the outset, the activity of “Rytas” society was an object of confrontation, and later even hate. In early 1936, 95 Lithuanian reading rooms founded by “Rytas” society still operated; during eight months Polish authorities closed down as many as 82, and out of a large number of schools, only two were left (in 1937 - only one).On 25 February 1936 a search was conducted at the office of “Rytas” society, and the books of financial operations and other documents were taken (it was not until 1939 that they were returned, and already by different authorities). Persistent attempts by the members of the “Rytas” administrative board to revive the society's activity were fruitful, which was also facilitated by the changed political situation. On 20 May 1939 the abolishment of the activity of “Rytas” society was cancelled, and on June 6th, the society's property was returned, although with huge debts. The society immediately began reconstituent activity: it addressed the Białystok voivodeship with an appeal to cancel the ban on the activity of “Rytas” society in the border area, which was placed at the end of 1936; acceptance of new members and establishment of the society's branches in villages was intensified, although with various interferences, and reading-rooms and bookshops were founded. Various forms of the society's activity were established: meetings, regional congresses, youth rallies, weeks, and ceremonial days (the weeks of cultural propaganda and “the struggle against our weaknesses”). The plans and detailed programmes were compiled by the society's central board. An important form of activity was courses for the heads of departments and reading-rooms held in districts and towns. In late 1939 “Rytas” society became consolidated. On 21 February 1940 the minister of home affairs approved the society's regulations and allowed the society to operate according to these regulations, and on February 22nd the society was included in the Register of Societies under no. 9,357. “Rytas” society, which greatly contributed to the fostering of the Lithuanian spirit, education, and cultural life in the Vilnius region, was closed down by Soviet occupational authorities in summer 1940 along with other Catholic organizations. [From the publication]