A photo from open sources
For Great Britain during the Victorian era (1837-1901) a surge of spiritualism, a belief in ghosts, was very characteristic and other manifestations of mysticism. It was a period of psychics and mediums, spiritualistic sessions, photographing spirits and other strange activities that were contrary to established scientific paradigms. People wanted to believe in miracles beyond explanation science, and spiritualism has become so fashionable that it appeared special, practicing his communities, as well as numerous charlatans, (what about without them?).
It was at this time that a community of like-minded people arose, which later became very famous and included in its ranks many influential people – “Ghost Club”, which appeared in Cambridge Trinity College. Its members reflected on otherworldly things, discussed ideas and news that had no place in the scientific the world. This company of independent scientists, at first very small, grew until in 1862 the “Ghost Club” was formally formed. He set himself two tasks: try to give at least some explanation for the phenomena behind the limits of scientific knowledge, and expose the deception numerous scammers and charlatans. So, one of the first The club’s investigations were related to the claims of the Davenport brothers, who claimed they could communicate with spirits through so called the “spiritual office”. The scammers were successful exposed.
Ghost Club members want paranormal were recognized along with other scientific discoveries, and to this end used an intelligent, academic approach to business. Among such worthy men were such outstanding personalities as Charles Dickens, W.B. Yates, Arthur Conan Doyle and other celebrities, including prominent scholars, clergy, and politicians, including there were several Nobel Prize winners. Dickens was the main organizer of the club, and in 1870, after the death of the writer, the community has almost broken up.
Resurrection of the Paranormal Club
However, in 1882, the club was resurrected, revived by spiritual followers of its founders Stainton Moses and Alaric Alfred Watts. At the same time, another similar one appeared. organization – “Society for Psychical Research”.
The updated “Ghost Club” was more like some kind of tight an elite society whose members observed many rituals, adhered to special rules and manners, spoke in secret language and regularly met in expensive restaurants behind closed the doors. Unlike the Society for Psychical Research, which regularly published magazines reporting their findings, “Club ghosts kept their activities secret. All discoveries made and observations were recorded by its members in their own records and hiding from the rest of the world. It should be noted that the club has expanded a sphere of his interests, in which, besides mysticism, a healthy lifestyle, hardening, wintering, etc. As such, he existed until 1936.
In 1962, the “Ghost Club” once again returned to life thanks to Theodore Carey and Patrick Hewitt, and now into his zone UFOs and cryptozoology also received attention. Activities of this the community has attracted many people determined to prove that paranormal phenomena are quite real and can be studied. His such eminent persons as Cyril Edwin Mitchinson became members Joad, Sir Julian Huxley, Algernon Blackwood, Sir Osbert Sitwell, Lord Amwell and others.
Paranormal Club today
The Ghost Club is still continuing its research and holds meetings every month in the Victory Services Club building near Marble Arch in London. Its members are still unbiased and challenge scientific dogma. Here is what one of them:
“In the past, I had disputes with people who immediately They stopped talking, as soon as I talked about paranormal phenomena. As a result, I began to say to such interlocutors: you can stay with your opinion, but if you ever experience something that you don’t if you can explain, come back and talk to me. ”
Will the Ghost Club ever reach its goals, unknown, but he is researching abnormal phenomena longer than anyone else. He has a story and a rich the legacy, experience and authority of prominent scientists who have challenged orthodox science with its reluctance to see what lies behind the limits of the material world.
Life time
