What can be the moral of this story?

I think the moral of the story is to do what you are good at regardless of what other
people may think. That is a pretty simple interpretation, but definitely a valid one.
Albert Edward is faced again and again with jobs that he is willing and able to
accomplish, but for which the people around him believe he is not suited. Whether
or not they think he is capable of being the verger, or the businessman, does not
affect the fact that he has already accomplished these things.
I also agree with the interpretation the other writers have presented: "intelligence"
comes in different forms, but each is equally valuable. I am currently reading F.
Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned, and came across this quote that I
think fits quite well with the moral of "The Verger":
"What a feeble thing intelligence is, with its short steps, its waverings, its pacings
back and forth, its disastrous retreats! Intelligence is a mere instrument of
circumstances. ... Intelligence is little more than a short foot-rule by which we
measure the infinite achievements of Circumstances."
If you take Fitzgerald's interpretation (or, I guess, the character Maury's
interpretation) and apply it to this short story, then you could say that Albert Edward
flourished in his circumstances, and it had little to nothing to do with his
"intelligence," and furthermore it never would. It was circumstance that allowed him
to succeed in the church, and in business, and it was circumstance that stomped
him down also.
I think that the message of this story is about the contrast between the actual worth
and value of something and the perception of that worth. There are several things
of value discussed in this story, either explicitly or implicitly stated: the position of
being the church verger, the ability to read, the amount of money generated by
Albert Edwards new shop and Albert Edward himself.
To the vicar and the church wardens, because Albert Edward doesnt know how to
read, he is less valuable as a verger, ignoring the fact that his tasks (which he has
done for sixteen years) dont require the ability to read. They admit as much when
they say that the sole reason for dismissing him is to avoid the potential
embarrassment that could result if it is discovered by a parishioner that he cannot
read, not because he cannot do his job.
The ability to read is seen by all characters in the story as almost tantamount to
intelligence. The one exception is Albert Edward. He is well aware of his value, his
capacity as a servant, as a verger, and as a business owner. It is interesting that
the actual ability to read isnt convincingly shown to be of tremendous value, even

by those who are most adamant about its worth. But dont you want to know the
news? . . . Dont you want to write a letter? says a church warden. What would
you be now if you had been able to [read and write]? says the bank manager.
I think the story is clever due to the fact that, in the real world, we would probably
be inclined to agree with the vicar, the wardens and the manager. Being illiterate?
How could you function? How could you get by? Clearly this is a handicap. And yet,
all of these characters overlook the fact that Albert Edward is a clever, observant,
successful person in the positions he has filled. If I were to meet someone who
doesnt have a cell phone, someone who doesnt know how to send an email (or
who for some reason still has a Hotmail account), or couldnt use a word processor,
I would probably make unfair, irrational judgments about them, their intelligence and
by association their worth. But these external abilities are only tools and dont
reflect the worth or the ability of them as a person.
Intelligence is a much more multifaceted phenomenon than people tend to allow,
perhaps especially people (like myself) who tend heavily towards the book-smart
side of things. I've tried to go through life with the philosophy that everyone I meet is
my superior in at least one thing and I can learn from them (I'm not just trying to
sound humble). I think this story supports that view.