Montana Memories

Baptist Church in Valier, Montana
"A meeting was called at the C.W. Bruce home for the purpose of considering the matter of extending a call to Mr. McInnes to be pastor of the Baptist Church. Rev. Millan presided. A unanimous vote was cast to extend a call to Mr. McInnes for an indefinate period of time,....It was also decided that since a definite salary could not be guaranteed, that all church offerings above running expenses of the church should be paid to the pastor, together with donations of foodstuffs which would be as liberal as possible." [from the minutes of the Baptist Church in Valier, Montana; June 22, 1934]

"The pastor tendered his resignation at a called meeting following the morning service. He has accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Havre, Montana. The resignation is to take effect Dec. 1, 1936." [minutes of the Baptist Church in Valier, Montana; Nov 15, 1936]

The following information was obtained from Lucy Skemp: Mr. and Mrs. McInnes were a very active young couple. They built up the youth group at the Baptist Church, organized a choir, had numerous parties, and an active Sunday evening Baptist Youth Fellowship.
In 1936, I started to college, and worked for my room and board at the McInnes home. Mr McInnes was pastoring the First Baptist Church in Havre, Montana then. It was a good place to work. Mrs. McInnes did the cooking, laundry, etc. My main job was to take care of the girls when the parents were out, which was almost every evening. Mrs. McInnes liked to go everywhere her husband did--calling, etc., plus the couple of weekly meetings at the church. They also cleaned the church one evening weekly.
After I left their home for summer vacation (in 1937), Mr McInnes lost his position in Havre. Everybody liked him and the family, but it became known that he had not been to seminary, but was a graduate of Moody Bible Insitute. He was a good speaker and very knowledgeable as to the Bible, but there was the technicality. Why it came to light at the late date I don't know. I'm sure he had a resume when he was called to the church.
They moved back to Valier and Mr. McInnes worked in the Mercantile Store there.

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