Draugija
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Draugija (literally: society, association) was a Lithuanian-language magazine published in Kaunas in 1907–1914, 1919–1923, and 1937–1940. Published by the Society of Saint Casimir, it focused on the issues of Lithuanian culture, literature, science, and politics and was geared towards the intelligentsia and the Catholic clergy. It urged everyone to work on developing the Lithuanian culture which would distinguish the Lithuanian nation from others and believed in slow and steady cultural work.[1] The magazine critically reviewed essentially every more substantial work of Lithuanian literature, published articles to improve and standardize the Lithuanian language, discussed how to improve education, analyzed social and political issues in Lithuania, promoted Christian democracy, criticized ultra-conservatives and attempted to find the proper place for the Catholic Church in modern society and science. Its issues usually had more than 100 pages and reached circulation of 1,000 copies. Its long-term editor was Lithuanian Catholic theologist and philosopher Adomas Jakštas (1907–1938). In total, 213 issues were published.[2] Its supplement for Catholic youth Ateitis (Future) edited by Pranas Dovydaitis gave rise to the Lithuanian Catholic Federation Ateitis.
The Lithuanian press ban in the Russian Empire was in effect from 1864 to 1904, thus the first Lithuanian cultural magazine Dirva was published by Antanas Milukas in the United States and the illegal Žinyčia established by Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas lasted only five issues.[3] When the press ban was lifted in 1904, Lithuanians hurried to establish various periodicals. In July 1906, during a meeting of the newly established Society of Saint Casimir for publishing Lithuanian books, it was decided to establish a new cultural magazine. It was understood that the magazine would be unprofitable due to the limited number of subscribers. The society's chairman Adomas Jakštas became the editor of Draugija. The first issue was published in January 1907. The monthly magazine with circulation of 1,000 copies was printed at the press of Saliamonas Banaitis.[3]
In February 1911, Draugija began publishing supplement for Catholic youth Ateitis (Future) edited by Pranas Dovydaitis. It had its own supplement which published samples of Lithuanian folklore (songs, riddles, proverbs, etc.) collected by the students. It gave rise to the Lithuanian Catholic Federation Ateitis and became an independent publication in 1913. In 1914, Draugija also published a supplement for teachers Mokytojas (Teacher) edited by Antanas Busilas.[3]
The magazine continued to be printed monthly until the outbreak of World War I. Jakštas and several others, as politically unreliable persons, were deported from Kaunas to Vilnius by the commandant of the Kaunas Fortress. Therefore, the last four issues of 1914 of Draugija were published in one booklet in early 1915. The subsequent German occupation interrupted any further attempts to publish the magazine. German authorities allowed to reestablish the publication only in October 1918. The first issue appeared in January 1919. It was a monthly publication, but it would combine two issues into one booklet published every two months.[3] From the beginning of 1923, it became the official publication of the newly established Faculty of Theology and Philosophy of the University of Lithuania. However, the faculty dropped the magazine after it published a political article on the Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party.[4] Draugija was discontinued in October 1923 after 153 issues. It was partially replaced by Židinys published by the Ateitis Federation in 1925–1940.[3]
Draugija was revived as a periodical published every two weeks in December 1937. Jakštas resumed editorship and after his death was replaced by Nikodemas Raštutis. The magazine was discontinued after the Soviet occupation in June 1940.[2] This revived magazine targeted the clergy of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas and published documents of the bishop and diocesan curia, thus becoming an organ (official periodical) of the archdiocese.[5]