WHAT THE DEAN HEARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHAT THE DEAN HEARD

HUMOUR AT VERGERS' MEETING

Dr. W. R. Matthews, the Dean of St. Paul's had some stories to tell about vergers at the London Diocesan Vergers Association's meeting in the crypt of St. Paul's, recently. Dr. Matthews said that once, when he was hidden behind a pillar at Exeter Cathedral ho listened to one of the newer vergers explaining various points about the cathedral, and heard a great deal cf "history" that was new to him. " Hi was done with such an air of conviction and with such kindliness," he added, " that I am sure that the party to which the verger was speaking vent away very much comforted and iispired." Dr. Matthews said ho hoped that if any verger wrote a book, " Clergymen [ Have Known," the author would not be too hard on Deans. " Deans,"

he continued, " are usually chosen because they have a reputation for profound learning; and people who bury their heads in hooks are extraordinarily silly when they como to deal with the practical world. Say anything you liko about minor canons, or archdeacons, but tempor the wind to the unfortunate dean." Vergers, he added, needed to be persons of very great patience, as the amount of foolish questions they had to answer practically every day was almost incredible. " J. tremble to think what, would have happened to me on more than one occasion but for a verger. I am sure I would have got into the wrong places and found myself in a conspicuous position just when I ought not to be."