So did Mr. Labaree
last week. I told him of our poverty. He said, 'I am grieved for
that; but begin with some little thing.'
"We went to Geog Tapa the last Sabbath in March. John gave notice,
as it was the gospel Sabbath, [monthly concert is so called], of the
contributions for our brothers in India. In his sermon he said that
much of our poverty is from our indolence. Last year our collection
was fifteen tomans. [A toman is about two dollars.] If we had more
zeal, we might raise twenty, and that would support a preacher in
the mountains. At once Guwergis cried out, 'I will give one.' I
said, 'We will support one preacher and two schools among ourselves,
and if any thing is over, we will send it far away.' Priest Abraham
approved of this. Then all the brethren in the congregation began to
speak. 'So is good.' 'Thus we will do.' John would have stilled
them; but I said, 'Perhaps God is blessing your preaching; let them
speak.' Praised be God's name forever; in a moment every obstacle
was swept away. Had we known that God was so near, we would have
bowed our heads before him. Now Aib Khan cried, 'I give one toman;'
and 'I,' said Priest Moses, 'twelve korans;' and another, 'I two
monats.
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