Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation, Inc. (CMMRF) THE HISTORY

HISTORY OF THE CRYPTIC MASONS
MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Updated December 31, 2005

The Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation (CMMRF) was incorporated in the state of Oklahoma, March 6, 1986. The driving force behind the new corporation was General Grand Master Ben Mandlebaum. of the General Grand Council, International. Companion Joe Lewis, Attorney at Law, was instrumental in getting the foundation a tax-exempt status very quickly. We also had a tax lawyer, James A. Hogue, PMIGM in Oklahoma. These men donated their time to the Foundation. Companion Lewis & Mandlebaum are now deceased and Companion Hoage is no longer working with us. The current secretary also donated his time and efforts until the Foundation was well established.

The Foundation funds research at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Through this research, we hope the causes and eventually a cure will be found for atherosclerosis and its complications. This research was previously funded by an Indiana corporation, which ceased to do business upon the death of Dr. Owen L. Shanteau, October 17, 1985. While CMMRF is not a part of that organization and the General Grand Council was not its governing body, we are continuing the good work that it started. Dr. Shanteau met with Dr. Nils Bang at the Medical Center in 1978 and discussed this new venture. He was able to give a grant of $12,000.00 a year to this project, which was being done on a part time basis. The former Foundation gave the Medical Center grants totaling $96,000.00.

Dr. Nils Bang, one of the founding researchers connected with our program reported that the most efficient way of investing the money kindly donated by The Cryptic Masons International is to invest it in the salaries of young, talented investigators. Many of which have had papers summarizing their work here accepted for presentation at the prestigious national conference of the American Federation for Clinical Research. In order to have papers accepted, the subject matter must be about new findings and not previously published. All of these Doctors have moved on to more substantial positions and are no longer with us. They are still using their experience in the field of heart research here and in other states.

Education is playing an important part in saving lives. More people are engaging in practical exercises, following recommended diets, refraining from smoking, learning to deal properly with stress and in general taking better care of themselves. We urge you to see a Doctor, if you are suffering from prolonged heavy squeezing pain in the chest, shortness of breath with nausea, radiating pain in the neck, shoulder or back or unexpected dizziness.

Angioplasty is also saving lives; however, 1/3 of these procedures have to be done again when the condition recurs. Dr. March, who is supervising our research, now has 40 patents. Two of the patents deal with administering medicine via a special made catheter directly to the damaged area. They hope that these inventions will prevent re-narrowing of the arteries after angioplasty. Dr. March is now experimenting with placing the medicine directly into the Pericardial Sac, as well as many other experiments.

Contributions are urgently needed. As you know, most of our donations are voluntary. Only three states that we know of have included CMMRF in their per capita dues. This is a decision that must be made by each Grand Council and not the General Grand Council. This is one reason a life sponsor program is not attractive to our members, we cannot offer them a savings for being a life sponsor. The contributions may be tax deductible and that does have some appeal.

We now have two new brochures which are more graphic and colorful than the earlier ones. The older ones are still in demand. We also have one entitled INFORMATION ON GIFTS, WILLS & BEQUESTS. We will send a supply to anyone who requests them. We have a quantity of (10 minute) videos available on request. We also have a condensed version of the 1997 Seminar that was held at the school of medicine. It runs approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

There are six lapel pins presented to contributors for donations totaling $50.00, $100.00, $150.00, $300.00, $500.00 and $ 750.00. There are six different certificates that can be earned. They are for $25.00, $50.00, $100.00, $500.00, $1,000.00 and for one hundred percent participation by a council. A plaque is also presented for a $1,000.00 donation. An individual receives a gold filled 9 Arch Pin with a diamond chip for each additional $1,000.00 after the lst $1,000.00 A council is presented with an extender for their plaque for each additional $1,000.00. These donations may be a one time gift or an accumulation over the years since 1986.

There are Board of Directors which meets once a year or as needed. The General Grand Master serves as the President during his triennial. The Current President is Bud Himes, MPGGM. The Secretary is Marion K. Crum, P.O. BOX 1489 Nashville, IN 47448.

We have a triennial audit or review performed by a Certified Public Accountant. We also have charts available which show how much each state has given each year, and the total amount given since 1985. These are available to any Cryptic Mason upon request.

Each year we have continued to grow in financial assets. There are expenses that have to be paid and they are paid from the income from investments. As of December 31, 2005 we have received $3,137,870.99 in contributions and we have $2,125,757.26 in financial assets. We have $1.012,113.73 less money now than we have taken in from contributions. CMMRF has given the I.U. School of Medicine $1,884,000.00. We feel that is an excellent record and we are proud of it. Prior to restructuring the foundation in 1986, the former foundation had given $96,000.00 to the Medical Center for research. Cryptic Masons have given Grants equaling $1,884,000.00 from 1978 to the present time. Income from our investments helped fund our grants. These figures do not include money earned from the endowment of the chair, which was $158,000.00 in 2005.

At the February 1996 Director's meeting in Washington D.C. we agreed to fund a "Chair" at the Medical Center at the cost of one million dollars. We contributed two hundred thousand dollars a year for five years to endow the chair. The final payment was made in December of 2000. The University offered as an incentive to match dollar for dollar the payout from the endowment. At the end of five years the Chair will be netting over one hundred twenty five thousand dollars a year for research in Vascular Biology. Our research efforts thus far has been confined to Atherosclerosis. It is now identified as Vascular Biology. When I asked "why vascular biology" the following answer was given and I quote: "Atherosclerosis implies "hardening of the arteries" and deposits of fat in the wall of the artery. We now understand that the process of atherosclerosis is far more complex than that. In turn, the atherosclerotic process needs to be attacked from a variety of different directions in order for us to fully understand it, prevent it and treat it when it has already occurred. The totality of this effort is what vascular biology is all about. As such, the term vascular biology is essential a statement to the world that we are taking a broad approach to understanding the process of atherosclerosis rather than focusing upon one specific component of the disease.

Sometime in 2001-2002 our Lab became a Center of Vascular Biology and Medicine(not atherosclerosis). Thus a chair named "Vascular Biology" means this will be a leadership position in the center. A chair in atherosclerosis would be a lesser position." Unquote. After a 3-year search for just the right person for this "Chair", Dr. Keith March was selected. The Creation of the new Center has attracted Two Million dollars from non-Masonic sources.

Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the Foundation. We could not achieve our goals without your help.

Fraternally and sincerely,

Marion K. Crum, PMIGM
Executive Secretary

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Break down of grants to I.U. School

Old Foundation CMMRF CMMRF

1978 $ 12,000.00 1986 $ 12,000.00 1996 $ 200,000.00

1979 $ 12,000.00 1987 $ 12,000.00 1997 $ 200,000.00

1980 $ 12,000.00 1988 $ 00.00 1998 $ 200,000.00

1981 $ 12,000-00 1989 $ 24,000.00 1999 $ 200,000.00

1982 $ 12,000.00 1990 $ 40,000.00 2000 $ 250,000.00

1983 $ 12,000.00 1991 $ 40,000.00 2001 $ 50,000.00

1984 $ 12,000.00 1992 $ 40,000.00 2002 $ 100,000.00

1985 $ 12,000.00 1993 $ 40,000.00 2003 $ 100,000.00

Total $ 96,000.00 1994 $ 40,000.00 2004 $ 100,000.00

1995 $ 40,000.00 2005 $ 100,000.00

Total Grants from CMMRF 7/05 $1,788,000.00

Total Grants Old Fndn. $ 96,000.00

Total of Research Grants $1,884,000.00

The Indiana University Foundation offered as an incentive program (and this offer was only good for a short time) to match the 5 per cent guaranteed pay out. The Department of Medicine offered .50 cents on the dollar plus $40,000.00 a year for 5 years to fund the research that we had been funding at the same rate. Thus:

$200,000.00 @ 5% = $ 10,000.00

Matching funds = $ 10,000.00

.50 cents on $1.00 $ 10,000.00

First year ....... $ 25,000.00 + $40,000 FOR RESEARCH

Second year $ 50,000.00 + $40,000 FOR RESEARCH

Third year $ 75,000.00 + $40,000 FOR RESEARCH

Fourth year . $ 100,000.00 + $40,000 FOR RESEARCH

Fifth year $125,000.00 + $40,000 FOR RESEARCH

First five years $375,000.00 + $200,000= $ 575,000.00

Second five years $125,000.00 per year = $ 625,000.00

First ten years $1,200,000.00

$125,000 thereafter in perpetuity whether we ever contribute any more money to the I.U. School of Medicine. The Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation Directors feel very fortunate to have been offered matching funds as an incentive to endow a chair at the School of Medicine.

The Chair is now fully endowed.

The endowment of the Chair has given us a Research Center as a foundation to do meaningful research; however $125,000.00 is not enough by itself. Research in Vascular Biology is very expensive. Future Grants are very important to our goal of conquering Heart Diseases.

Through the efforts of CMMRF the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine has been established. Cryptic Masons can be very proud of this accomplishment.

We have committed $100,000.00 a year for five years through 2006.

Since Cryptic Masons have established the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology & Medicine, non Masonic sources have seen fit to donate 4.5 million dollars to the Center.

                     
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