Founder & President

Akram EliasPast Grand Master Elias’ Masonic journey began on June 18th, 1996, when he was initiated into the First Degree of Masonry at his mother lodge: Potomac Lodge No. 5, F.A.A.M. in Washington, DC. It was there that he received all three of his degrees. Since those early days in his Masonic life, MWB Akram R. Elias has been the Worshipful Master of several other Lodges: La France Lodge No. 93 in 1999; Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 in 2001; Cincinnatus Lodge No. 76 in 2003; and Pythagoras Lodge of Research in 2004, all in Washington, DC.

Most Worshipful Brother Elias’ involvement in the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. of the District of Columbia began in 1999, when he was Grand Marshal. In December of 2000, he was elected as Junior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge. After proceeding through the Grand Line, MWB Elias was installed as Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia on December 8, 2007 and ended his term in office on December 13, 2008.

Past Grand Master Elias is very active in the Appendant Bodies of Masonry. He is a member of the Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar, and is also a member of other York Rite bodies such as the College of Rites, the Royal Order of Scotland and the Red Cross of Constantine. He is a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, specifically in Almas Temple Shrine of Washington D.C. He is also active in the Scottish Rite Valley of Washington, Orient of the District of Columbia, where he is a Past Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose-Croix. MWB Elias received the 33rd Degree, Sovereign Grand Inspector General (Honorary), on October 3rd, 2001.

With “Engage, Energize, Enlighten” as his theme, MWB Elias’ year in the Grand East was an exciting one for Freemasonry in the nation’s capital. Local and national government leaders and institutions were engaged, building valuable relationships for the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. With direct assistance to veterans and support for public education and young artists, Freemasonry’s worthy philanthropic and charitable pursuits were energized. Numerous officer workshops and Grand Lodge of Instruction sessions were designed to
enlighten lodge leaderships. In May 2008, the Light of Universal Freemasonry shined on Washington, D.C. as Grand Master Elias and the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia hosted the largest gathering of Masonic leaders in history – 121 Grand Lodges – with the 9th World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges.

MWB Elias can be seen in many television documentaries to include;

  • “Mr. Dreyfuss Goes to Washington” – wrote the original treatment and co-produced it with Academy Award Winner Richard Dreyfuss – The History Channel © 2001

  • “Modern Marvels: The Washington Monument” – The History Channel © 2004

  • “Secrets of Angels and Demons & Masons” – PBS © 2005

  • “Freemasonry Revealed” – Arcadia Entertainment for Canada TV, 2005

  • “Mysteries of the Freemasons” – The History Channel © 2006

  • “The Freemasons” – National Geographic Channel © 2006

  • “Unveiling the Masonic Symbolism of Washington DC” – E-Square, LLC, © 2006

  • “Mystica” – German TV © 2006

  • “Occult Architecture” – Vision TV Canada © 2009

Masonic Awards and Recognition

  • Order of Merit, Grand Lodge of Russia, Moscow, 2009
  • Dedicated Service Award, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, 2008
  • Masonic Outreach Award, Justice-Columbia Lodge No. 3, Washington, DC, 2008
  • Duane C. Anderson Excellence in Masonic Education Award, Grand Lodge of Minnesota, Bloomington, MN, 2007
  • Valentine Reintzel Medal for Service to Freemasonry, Grand Lodge of Free And Accepted Masons, Washington, DC, 1999

Contact MWB Elias at elias@esquarellc.com

svoloshinBrother Sviatoslav V. Voloshin, 32°, is a serial entrepreneur in the digital domain. He is a strong believer in the power of the Internet and in unparalleled benefits it offers to various organizations in general and to Freemasonry in particular. Brother Voloshin was the chief architect of Acacia Network 1.0. He epitomizes the spirit of Masonry in the New World and is a true example of a passionate young Mason of the 21st Century. He is a frequent speaker on the subjects of “Freemasonry in the Digital Age” and an author of a white paper entitled “Freemasonry in the Digital Age: harnessing the power of the Internet to stay current and relevant.”

Brother Voloshin also frequently gives tours of Washington, DC, highlighting its rich Masonic heritage and unveiling Masonic symbolism. His particular style of presentation is a result of the intermingling of European and American cultures.

Brother Voloshin belongs to two lodges in Washington, D.C.: Federal Lodge #1, where he was a Chaplain for two years, and to Benjamin B. French #15, where he currently serves as a Junior Steward. Brother Voloshin proudly served the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia for three years, two as the Grand Photographer and one as the Assistant to the Grand Master for Executive Affairs (Most Worshipful Akram R. Elias, PGM 2008). Brother Voloshin was part of the executive committee, along with MWB Elias, WB Courtney and Brother Blatstein, as well as many other dedicated brethren, who planned and executed the World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges which took place in May of 2008 in the Nation’s Capital. He is fluent in Russian, English, German and Spanish and is currently working on his Polish.

Contact Sviatoslav at svoloshin@voloshinenterprises.com