Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

“ [275] Corporation, and the seat Dr. Hoar had quitted was given to the Rev. Mr. Oakes.” He hesitated to accept the office, but at length consented to perform its duties as President pro tem., which he continued to do for five years; when, having been again elected, he was installed into the office of President on Commencement Day, in August, 1680, less than a year before his death.¹

Ancient writers uniformly represent Oakes as a skilful and diligent teacher. The college was in a disorganized condition when he assumed its management, and required the most cautious and judicious guidance. This, together with the labor of instruction, was sufficient, it would seem, to tax his mental energy to the utmost, especially in connection with his various duties to his church and parish. But in addition to all this, his mind was disturbed by the consciousness that his opposition to President Hoar was regarded by many as the result of disappointed ambition, it being suspected that he coveted the presidency when it was vacated by the death of Chauncy, that he was offended when it was given to Hoar, and that he hoped yet to obtain it if his rival could be displaced. Mr. Oakes had other trials, more closely connected with his pastoral office. Intense political excitement prevailed in regard to encroachments by the British Government on the Charter, which, not long after the death of Oakes, was utterly subverted and abrogated. Intense religious excitement also prevailed in consequence of the renewed activity of those dreaded disturbers of the public peace, the Anabaptists and Quakers, who were encouraged thereto by the British Government. To this excited state of the public mind Rev. Samuel Danforth alluded in a letter addressed to his brother, Thomas Danforth, March 31, 1670: “The truth is, matters are so circumstanced that a man can hardly come into any company and enter into any discourse, but before he is aware he finds himself in the like fan and sieve as that wherein Satan winnowed Peter in the high priest's hall.” ² On the same subject the “Freemen of Cambridge” addressed a long memorial to the General Court, dated June 3, 1671 (just one month before the arrival of Oakes from England), in which they say:—

After the experience of the Lord's goodness in giving a good issue to many other temptations wherewith in his wisdom he hath seen meet to exercise his people and churches here, it is