The Verger

When I worked as a freelance nurse, some of my duties were carried out on adult mental health wards where at times I was called upon to run self help groups.

At these groups I used to relate a short story that I had adapted from a story written by Somerset Maugham, to my mind one of the finest fictional writers of the early part of the 20th century.

This story is set in the 1930s and concerns a verger, we will call him Mr Mullins, and he had been a verger of his parish for over 15 years. One day he was called into the church office where he was introduced to the new members of the church council. After introductions he was asked to read the new procedures and instructions that had been introduced, and then sign that he had read them. I’m sorry, he said. But I cannot read nor write. What! said the council members, We can’t have a verger who cannot read or write. So he was duly dismissed.

Mr Mullins had a few savings and lodged with a widow, but because he now had time on his hands he used to get under her feet, so she kicked him out during the day. Mr Mullins spent a lot of his time sitting in the park and walking, he also liked to read the daily news paper. One day he was walking down a street of terraced houses, when he stopped to remove some change from his pocket to buy a newspaper. He looked around for a newsagent but could not find one. He thought to himself, If I have problems finding a newsagent, then maybe other people must have the same problem.

So the idea came to him to open a newsagent shop with his savings. The shop proved successful and within a few years he had opened a further five shops. During this time he had married the widow, who helped him with the daily running of his business. One day he was asked by his bank manager to come in and see him. Well Mr Mullins the manager said. Your account shows you have over 10,000 in available funds (a lot of money at the time, this was the 1930s) and you have the deeds to five shops and your own house. The bank proposes to offer you better facilities; I have prepared a new draft of your accounts. Could you please read them and then sign that you have read them.

I am sorry sir, said Mr Mullins, But I cannot read nor write. What! said the manager What in heavens name would you have been, if you had been able to read and write?

A Verger sir said Mr Mullins.

This story was used to demonstrate that Our Lord has given each and every one of us the ability to achieve our life’s goal. All we need is faith in Him and ourselves.