Walter Colton (1797-1851) was a navy chaplain and Congregational minister originally from Vermont. Colton gave this lecture in response to Bishop Kenrick’s 1842 letter to the Board of Controllers of Public Schools. Later printed in pamphlet form, the lecture was widely distributed with the help of the American Protestant Association. Though many of its arguments against Kenrick had been made before, the pamphlet became influential among anti-Catholic nativists in the controversy over religion in schools. After finishing his navy chaplaincy, Colton became alcalde of California, acting as governor with judicial and policing powers over the territory.