The talks by Akram R. Elias, a nationally known Masonic historian and lecturer, are titled "Freemasonry and the Founding of the United States of America" and "Freemasonry and the Founding of the Republic of Texas."

Mr. Elias' lecture, including an overview of Freemasonry in El Paso, will be illustrated with a Powerpoint presentation. There will be an intermission between talks for refreshments. The lectures will be presented in the 500-seat El Paso Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri at Santa Fe Street in Downtown El Paso, across from the El Paso Museum of History.

The talks are sponsored by the El Paso Museum of History, Capstone Productions Inc., and the El Paso Scottish Rite Historical Library and Museum. Akram Elias’ appearance is a fund-raiser with net proceeds going to support the El Paso Museum of History and the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital.

Guest lecturer Akram R. Elias is a 33-degree Scottish Rite Freemason, and the immediate past Grand Master of the District of Columbia Freemasons. He has appeared on several History

Channel documentaries about Freemasonry to discuss his ideas of Masonic symbolism built into the capital city of Washington, D.C., by the country's founding fathers, most of whom were

Freemasons. He has appeared most recently in programs about the new Dan Brown book, “The Lost Symbol," a suspense thriller that follows Masonic symbols --- some real, some fictional --- across Washington, D.C., to solve a mystery and save the life of a Master Mason.

Tickets for Mr. Elias' two-part presentation are $5 per person, with a $1 discount for Freemasons, members of the El Paso Museum of History, members of the U.S. military, members of the Knights of Columbus, and students with valid ID.

Capstone Productions of El Paso will videotape the lectures for distribution on DVD and other digital media. Capstone Productions DVDs about Freemasonry and DVDs in the El Paso Gold Heritage series will be for sale at the lecture.

The public is also invited to take free tours of the El Paso Scottish Rite Historical Library and Museum beginning at 1 p.m. Jan. 16. The lecture by Mr. Elias begins at 3 p.m.

Akram R. Elias has over 17 years of professional experience as a consultant/contractor in the areas of cultural exchanges, international trade and political relations between the United States and countries around the world. He is a founder of Capital Communications Group in Washington, D.C., where he heads its public diplomacy and international trade activities.

For information about lecture tickets, call the El Paso Scottish Rite at (915) 533-4409. For information about the lectures and Akram R. Elias, contact Project Media Coordinator Connie Vasquez at (915) 449-4737.