History of the Ghost Club: Belief and Skepticism in Early Paranormal Research
- Ursula Wiebusch
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
During a recent podcast appearance, I was asked a familiar question: Can you recommend an author, book, movie, or podcast to listeners interested in the paranormal?
One title immediately came to mind — the audiobook The Ghost Club by Kate Winkler Dawson.
The book explores the origins of what is widely regarded as the first organized group dedicated to the investigation of alleged spiritual phenomena: the Ghost Club, founded in England in 1862.
Among the Ghost Club’s notable historical members were Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and William Butler Yeats — names that need little introduction. Two others, however, were less familiar to me: William Stainton Moses and Harry Price. Learning about these two figures proved especially interesting, as they represented very different approaches to the paranormal.
William Stainton Moses: Belief and Mediumship
William Stainton Moses (1839–1892) was an English clergyman who initially rejected Spiritualism. Following what he described as a positive experience with a medium, he came to believe he possessed mediumistic abilities himself. Moses went on to become a founding member of the London Spiritualist Alliance — now known as the College of Psychic Studies — and later served as Vice President of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR).
In 1882, Moses played a role in reviving the Ghost Club after it had dissolved following the death of Dickens in the early 1870s.
Moses’ association with the SPR eventually ended after the publication of findings that exposed fraudulent practices by a fellow medium, William Eglinton. A committed Spiritualist, Moses refused to allow researchers to test his own séances or investigate his claimed abilities. This refusal contributed to skepticism among investigators, some of whom questioned whether his experiences were genuine, self-suggested, or the result of deliberate deception.
Harry Price: Investigation and Skepticism
Harry Price (1881–1948) represented the opposite end of the spectrum. He was not a medium, but a researcher — precisely the type of figure Moses would likely have opposed. Price was known for investigating and exposing fraudulent spiritualist claims, while also acknowledging phenomena he believed warranted serious consideration.
Price joined the SPR in 1920 and quickly became a controversial figure. One of his most notable investigations exposed William Hope, a popular spirit photographer of the time, as a fraud. This revelation angered Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and led to the resignation of approximately eighty-four SPR members who accused the organization of opposing Spiritualism rather than remaining neutral.
Like Moses, Price eventually left the SPR, resigning in 1925. He later founded the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, an organization intended to investigate alleged psychic phenomena through impartial and scientific means. In 1927, Price joined the Ghost Club.
Two Perspectives, One Legacy - History of the Ghost Club
What struck me most was how these two men — so different in outlook — were united by their shared involvement in both the Ghost Club and the Society for Psychical Research. One approached the paranormal through belief and personal experience; the other through investigation and skepticism.
I cannot help but imagine what a conversation between them might have been like. A podcast featuring both voices — belief and doubt — would have been fascinating.
This post was originally written on the eve of Halloween. My intention was not to frighten, but to share the excitement of learning, history, and inquiry. If anything, it is a reminder that the roots of paranormal investigation have always included debate, disagreement, and the search for understanding.
References
Winkler Dawson, K. (2023). The Ghost Club. Penguin Audio
Ghost Club History – ghostclub.org.uk
Society for Psychical Research
Psi Encyclopedia entries on William Stainton Moses and Harry Price
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