Publishing activity of the Association of Teetotal Priests (1903-1914)

Izabela Krasińska

Abstract

One of the aims of the Association of Teetotal Priests was to combat alcoholism by publishing relevant literature addressed to a wide audience. The first publications released by the Association appeared in 1903. The Association of Teetotal Priests published six books (brochures and books of small size) to the outbreak of the First World War. Moreover, there were dozens types of ephemeral prints, among which worth mentioning are: carol and communion pictures, postcards, appeals, pictorial and statistical charts, graphs and inserts for prayer books. Another thing worth noting is the fact that the Association of Teetotal Priests in the Archdiocese of Gniezno and Poznań also published periodicals. A number of priests from the Association were engaged in scientific, journalistic and editorial activity. Among them special mention should be drawn to: Rev. Kazimierz Niesiołowski, Rev. Józef Janiszewski, Rev. Henryk Antoni Szuman, Rev. Maksymilian Mrugas and Rev. Onufry Śpikowski. The publications of the Association were distributed mainly by the abstinence secretariats (depots) located in Poznań and Lviv. It is noteworthy that those members of the Association who paid regular fees received all publications free of charge.