Alexander Russell Webb and the American Muslim Propagation Movement
Mar 31st, 2011 by bachmann
Alexander Russell Webb (1846-1916: journalist, publisher, and U.S. ambassador) is noted as the first American to have converted to Islam. Raised as a Presbyterian, Webb eventually abandoned his Christian upbringing to investigate other faiths, ultimately converting to Islam in 1888. Ironically, while he declared himself a Muslim, Webb had not even met a single Muslim. Soon afterwards, he toured India, where he met a number of Muslims and gave speeches. Upon his return to the U.S in 1892., he established the Oriental Publishing Company in New York and began The Moslem World, the official organ of the American Muslim Propagation Movement. In this work, published in 1893, Webb tells his own story and explains the American Islamic Propaganda Movement and its proposed benefit to the American public.
In his introduction, he states:
“The almost universal disposition, among liberal-minded Americans,
to know more of the Oriental religions than their ancestors
knew, has been productive of at least one good result, viz., the
breaking away from soul-destroying religious superstitions; and the
development of an independent, fearless spirit of thought and investigation,….
The primary purpose of this book is not to destroy nor weaken
any creed or system of theology, nor to make proselytes for Islam,
but to arouse and encourage among English-speaking Christians a
spirit of calm, persistent and unprejudiced investigation to bo
applied to their own as well as other systems of religion.”
- Description:
- Webb, Alexander Russell. Islam in America :a brief statement of Mohammedanism and an outline of the American Islamic propaganda. New York : Oriental Publ. Co., 1893.
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:2562348
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University