Austria
(For ancient magic among the Teutonic people of Austria, See Teutons. See also Hungary.) In Austria, Spiritualism was first promulgated by M. Constantine Delby of Vienna. He was a warm adherent of Allan Kardec, and founded a society under legal auspices, besides starting a Spiritual journal. The society numbered but few members, in fact Spiritualism never obtained much foothold in Vienna. At Buda-Pesth it was quite otherwise. In a short time a considerable amount of interest was awakened, and many persons of note began to take part in the circles that were being formed there, amongst these were Mr. Anton Prohasker and Dr. Adolf Grunhut. At length a society was formed, legalised by the State, of which Baron Edmund Vay, was elected president. Mr. Lishner, of Pesth, built a handsome séance room which the society rented. At that time there were one hundred and ten members, many of them being Hebrews, though all Christians. Baron Vay was the honorary president, Dr. Grunhut, was the active president, and these and Mr. Prohasker were amongst the most devoted and faithful workers. The principles of the society, indeed the basis of it were taken from the Geist Kraft Stoff of Baroness Adelma Von Vay and the works of Allan Kardec -purely Christian Spiritism. It never encouraged paid Mediumship. All the officers were voluntary and honorary. It had no physical Medium, but good trance, writing and seeing mediums.