A blind preacher from the Harpoot Seminary had been the means of this unexpected result.

He was known as John Concordance (Hohannes Hamapapar), on account of his wonderful readiness in quoting Scripture, chapter and verse.

He was sent to Shepik, and hearing the complaints of the people about their poor crops and poverty, replied: "God tells you the reason in the third chapter of Malachi; where he says, 'Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me.'" Then taking for a text, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse," etc., he inculcated the duty and privilege of setting apart _at least a tenth_ of their earnings for God.

The people were convinced, and after paying half of their crops, according to usage, to the owner of the soil for rent, and a tenth to the government for taxes, as they must needs do, they gave another tenth to the Lord's "storehouse,"-- a room they had set apart for receiving the tithes.

And the sermon of this blind preacher, and the example of these poor people, have wrought wonders in the land.[1] [1] Mr.Wheeler's _Ten Years on the Euphrates_, chap.x.For an abstract of John Concordance's sermon on _Tithes_, preached at Harpoot, see, _Missionary Herald_ for 1868, pp.