TEVYNES SARGAS (Guardian
of the Homeland), Catholic monthly, published in Tilze (Tilsit), East
Prussia, between 1896 and 1904. Its purpose was to join all educated
Lithuanians in the common Lithuanian effort. Appearing regularly each month,
it was 32-60 pages long and printed in 2,000 copies. Its founder and editor
(until 1902) was Rev. Juozas Tumas-Vaizgantas, who was succeeded by Rev.
Antanas Milukas. Because the Press Ban, imposed on Lithuania by the Russians,
necessitated that the
newspaper be distributed underground, its editor was officially indicated as
being Jurgis Lapinas, a Lithuanian activist residing in German-ruled East
Prussia. This periodical tied the question of nationality closely to that of
the Catholic religion, a policy that guided its readers in resisting both
Russian Orthodox and Polish influence.
Literature:
ENCYCLOPEDIA LITUANICA I-VI, 1970-1978, Boston
