De Laurence, L. W. (Lauron William)

Lauron William de Laurence (31 October 1868 – 11 September 1936) was an American hypnotist, occult author and publisher, and a self styled spiritual authority who gained notoriety in the early 20th century as both a cult leader and promoter of esoteric teachings. He was arrested multiple times over the course of his career, most notably in 1912 for operating the Order of the Black Rose, a cult accused of physically and mentally abusing its members, distributing narcotics, and engaging in trance …