A Muslim in Victorian America : The Life of Alexander Russell Webb

Conflicts and controversies at home and abroad have led Americans to focus on Islam more than ever before. In addition, more and more of their neighbors, colleagues, and friends are Muslims. While much has been written about contemporary American Islam and pioneering studies have appeared on Muslim slaves in the antebellum period, comparatively little is known about Islam in Victorian America. This biography of Alexander Russell Webb, one of the earliest American Muslims to achieve public renown, seeks to fill this gap. Webb was a central figure of American Islam during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A native of the Hudson Valley, he was a journalist, editor, and civil servant. Raised a Presbyterian, Webb early on began to cultivate an interest in other religions and became particularly fascinated by Islam. While serving as U.S. consul to the Philippines in 1887, he took a greater interest in the faith and embraced it in 1888, one of the first Americans known to have done so. Within a few years, he began corresponding with important Muslims in India. Webb became an enthusiastic propagator of the faith, founding the first Islamic institution in the United States: the American Mission. He wrote numerous books intended to introduce Islam to Americans, started the first Islamic press in the United States, published a journal entitled The Moslem World, and served as the representative of Islam at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago. In 1901, he was appointed Honorary Turkish Consul General in New York and was invited to Turkey, where he received two Ottoman medals of merits. In this first-ever biography of Webb, Umar F. Abd-Allah examines Webb's life and uses it as a window through which to explore the early history of Islam in America. Except for his adopted faith, every aspect of Webb's life was, as Abd-Allah shows, quintessentially characteristic of his place and time. It was because he was so typically American that he was able to serve as Islam's ambassador to America (and vice versa). As America's Muslim community grows and becomes more visible, Webb's life and the virtues he championed - pluralism, liberalism, universal humanity, and a sense of civic and political responsibility - exemplify what it means to be an American Muslim. Alexander Russell Webb (1846-1916) Was A Central Figure In The Early History Of Islam In America. A Native Of The Hudson Valley, Webb Was A Journalist, Editor, And Civil Servant. Raised A Presbyterian, Webb Early On Began To Cultivate An Interest In Other Religions. While Serving As U.s. Consul To The Philippines In 1887, He Became Fascinated By Islam As He Saw It Practiced And Began Corresponding With Leading Muslims. He Converted In 1888, One Of The First Americans Known To Have Done So. Webb Became An Enthusiastic Propagator Of The Faith, Founding The First Islamic Institution In The United States: The American Moslem Brotherhood. He Wrote Numerous Books Intended To Introduce Islam To Americans, Started The First Islamic Press In The United States, Published A Journal Entitled The Moslem World, And Served As The Representative Of Islam At The 1893 Worlds Parliament Of Religions In Chicago. In This First-ever Biography Of Webb, Umar F. Abd-allah Examines Webbs Life And Uses It As A Window Through Which To Explore The Early History Of Islam In America. In Every Aspect Of His Life Except His Adopted Faith, Abd-allah Shows, Webb Was Quintessentially A Man Of His Place And Time. It Was Because He Was So Typically American That He Was Able To Serve As Islams Ambassador To America (and Vice Versa). As Americas Muslim Community Grows And Becomes More Visible, Webbs Life And The Virtues He Championed Pluralism, Liberalism, Universal Humanity, And A Sense Of Civic And Political Responsibility Exemplify What It Means To Be An American Muslim. The Yankee Mohammedan -- Hudson Valley Roots -- Webb's Journey To Islam -- Go West Young Man -- Diplomatic Post In The Orient -- Passage To India -- Manhattan Beginnings -- Getting Out The Word -- Chicago World's Fair And First Parliament Of Religions -- Mission Runs Aground And Webb's Final Years. Umar F. Abd-allah. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [345]-363) And Index. Contents......Page 12 1. The Yankee Mohammedan......Page 16 2. Hudson Valley Roots......Page 34 3. Webb’s Journey to Islam......Page 60 4. Go West, Young Man......Page 94 5. Diplomatic Post in the Orient......Page 116 6. Passage to India......Page 136 7. Manhattan Beginnings......Page 172 8. Getting Out the Word......Page 194 9. Chicago World’s Fair and First Parliament of Religions......Page 224 10. Mission Runs Aground and Webb’s Final Years......Page 258 Conclusion: Webb’s Legacy......Page 284 Notes......Page 294 Bibliography......Page 358 A......Page 378 B......Page 380 C......Page 382 E......Page 384 F......Page 385 H......Page 386 I......Page 387 J......Page 388 L......Page 389 M......Page 390 O......Page 393 P......Page 394 R......Page 395 S......Page 396 V......Page 398 W......Page 399 Z......Page 401