Where would you find this quote?

[dwckabal]

Evolution

has been accepted because it appeals to the mind of man as being more reasonable that species should be created according to natural laws rather than by an arbitrary and special creation.

Not in current biology textbooks, that's for sure, as the statement is phrased in a way that seems to challenge religion, which could cause it to be deleted. But, incredible as it may seem, that quote is from a 1912 high school botany text. (Quoted in Webb, Evolution Controversy, p. 63)

BTW, I can't recommend the book Freethinkers—A History of American Secularism by Susan Jacoby enough—I believe it is required reading for anyone who considers themselves a "freethinker."

Amazon link here.

[onager]

1. Fallout from the Scopes Trial

I recently read an article on that subject. It pointed out that the famous 1925 monkey trial, seen as a "victory" for evolution, was actually a disaster.

It thoroughly cowed the schoolbook publishers, and they rushed to get evolution out of their texts.

The author had analyzed schoolbooks pre and post Scopes, and noted that evolution was presented more directly and completely in school texts published before 1925.