Society for the Advancement of Belief in Ghosts

The Society for the Advancement of Belief in Ghosts (or the Ghost Club) was an American secret society, formed by William Ridley, Dr. Henry de Caux, and Professor Robert Burton in 1887 (on Hallowe'en, naturally) at Crawfordsville, Indiana, for the purpose of sharing personal stories of ghostly encounters and the collection of a society library and museum of artifacts in support of the reality of ghosts. Membership was open exclusively to persons willing to openly attest that they had a personal experience with a ghost (and for such attestations to be accepted by all members via a blackball vote on initiation).

Resources

 * "The Ghost Club of Crawfordsville" (jerrylturner.wordpress.com)
 * "The Ghost Club of Crawfordsville" (jerrylturner.wordpress.com)