1880.] TKANSACTIONS. 83 



the people to the uriinterrnpted use of Main Street, against 

 corporate usurpation and a singular individual arrogance that 

 had hitherto brooked no opposition to its selfish will. His 

 sturdy independence cost him the Mayoralty : — possibly as great 

 a loss to the city as to himself. For the services that were 

 valueless to the public were eagerly sought by the great Railway 

 Corporation, in whose active direction he continued through life. 

 Most truly did the stone which the builders rejected become the 

 head of the corner ! The future historian of Worcester will 

 award him tliat justice heretofore withheld ; and, vindicating his 

 memory from the charge of disloyalty, too eflfectually used to his 

 prejudice by his cunning opponents, as a cloak to their own 

 selfish purposes ; record the fact that, all this time, he held the 

 written thanks of John A. Andrew for his zealous co-operation ; 

 and that, so long as he was Mayor of Worcester, that great 

 Patriot and Statesman reposed the chief est faith and reliance 

 upon him of all the Municipal Officers of Massachusetts. 



More especially was Mr. Lincoln thorough in what he did, or 

 undertook. He seemed fully possessed of the axiom ; — if you 

 are indifferent, send ! if you would succeed, go ? Whatsoever 

 was to be done, he did himself, if possible ; and what " his hand 

 found to do he did it with his might." In Horticulture this 

 enured to his benefit ; as it will profit all who follow the example. 

 For, in those early days, when Horticultural Societies were in 

 their infancy, if formed at all ; and the great European Nurseries 

 had gained but narrow repute ; it depended upon the man him- 

 self whether diligence and skill should merit and obtain appre- 

 ciation. That Mr. Lincoln was thus successful, where many 

 failed, needs not to be stated here. But unexpected testimony 

 to that effect was borne from abroad, by Mr. Wood, of West 

 Newton (so pleasantly known to you), who mentioned to your 

 Secretary, during the late New England Fair, his coming to 

 Worcester with his father, some forty -five years ago, to procure 

 trees from a nursery that could be trusted. The location which 

 he pointed out was that original one, about the intersection of 

 Elm Street with Linden, and which has been heretofore indi- 

 cated. 



Of his devotion to this Society, what could be more eloquent 



