L. W. de Laurence

Lauron William de Laurence (March 20, 1868 - September 11, 1936) was an American occultist, author, and publisher of esoteric and occultic texts, primarily through De Laurence, Scott & Co. of Chicago.

Background

 * School of Hypnotism and Suggestive Therapeutics
 * de Laurence, Scott & Co.
 * De Laurence Co., Inc.

The White Willow and the Black Rose
On 12 November 1912, Chicago police raided de Laurence's temple at 3340 Michigan Ave., arresting de Laurence, his wife Pauline, and others present, based on witness testimony provided by Augusta Muerie. Newspaper reporting on the raid and subsequent trial focused attention to the claim that most male members were "Negroes or Indians" and female members were "white women", and that the cult was engaged in lurid activities, including public nudity, self-flagellation, and forays into the dark arts. Further, it was reported that the "chief deity of the temple was found to be a regular cigar store Indian," which was the focus of the devotions and meditations.

Post office inspectors used evidence seized during the raid to bring up charges against de Laurence, whom they accused of sending drugs and immoral literature through the mail. He was ultimately fined $15 in municipal court, and the temple was effectively disbanded.

Selected Bibliography
Although noted and outed as a grand plagiarist, de Laurence's texts are nonetheless of interest and merit to this day.


 * "The Master Key" (1914)
 * "The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and Indian Occultism" (1915)
 * "The Great Book of Secret Hindu, Ceremonial and Talismanic Magic"

Resources

 * Selections from the De Laurence, Scott & Co. catalog (archive.org) &mdash; "Devotional Materials for the Mystic - Research Equipment for the Psychic"