Stir together flour, brown sugar and shortening to make crumbs. Set aside ½ cup.
In another bowl, stir together egg and table syrup. Dissolve baking soda in hot water and then add to syrup mixture and stir. Add remaining crumbs to mixture and stir. Pour into pie shell.
Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top. Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool before serving.