The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-08
ISLAM'S CHAMPION.
Russell Webb Explains How He
Became a MOhammedan.
Why Polys.my Is vfrtuous-Plan Of Cam
paien by Which We Are to Be Made
Believers In the Koran-Whence
the Money Comes.
lcoPyR1cHr. 1881

10Th of last February found that the
object of ny mission had been widely
announced in the newspapers. Many
treated the unheard of advent OF Mo-
hammedan missionary in America as
huge joke and as nothing more than
subject for the wit of the paragrapher
and the cartoonist. In shorttime the
journalists came to better understand
me and the work which proposed to
do, and the resulting discussion has
borne fruit already in aiding to destroy
the twin foes of ignorance and intol-
erance.
Call the attempt to propagate Islam
in America s.audacious fanaticism," or
what you will, have made more con-
verts during these six months than any
Christian missionary to a Mohamme-
dan country has ever made in as many
years. Request. from the artisan and
the judge upon the bench for litera-
ture which will throw more light upon
the doctrines of Islam have come in
great numbers from all parts of the
country. There are now six circles
formed for the purpose of the study of
the Koran, three in New York, one in
Brooklyn. one in Washington, and one
in Pueblo, Col. I expect that there
will be one in every large city in
the country as soon as the hot months
arc over. To be member of a circle
does not necessarily imply belief in
Mohamnedanism. Indeed, l do not
seek to make converts by the forcing"
process which is so often used by
American missionaries in India. am
here simply to teach the truths of Mo-
hammedanism and to destroy the delu-
sions concerning it which are held by
most Christians. My converts have
converted themselves. In many in
stances have never seen them person
ally.
It is not difficult to explain how I
became Mohammedan. AS soon as
reached maturity began the study of
the various religions and OF the mystic
ries of life and death. The possession
of some knowledge created thirst for
more. Desiring to personally investi-
gate the workings of the Mohamne-
dan religion. l secured through the
kindness of President Cleveland, in
1885, the consulship at Manila in the
Philippine islands. The little time [
had to spare outside of my official du-
ties spent in the pursuit of further
enlightenment. There could be but
one result. My Investigations made
me thorough Mussulman.
Why? Because l found the morals
of the followers of Allah were better
than those of the people of our own
Christian America. Because there is
nothing about the traditions or pre-
cepts of NIohammedanism incapable of
proof. Because its higher philosophy
is the most perfect in the world. Be-
cause there is nothing of superstition,
bigotry or intolerance about it. And
because l believe it can accomplish in
America what Christianity has SO long
attempted and so signally failed in
doing. I am here to teach it's beauties,
its philosophy and its salvation.
am often asked who furnishes the
money to carry on this work in Amer
lea. There are rich and devout Mo-
hammedans as well as rich and devout
Christians. Wealthy Indian merchants
have pledged themselves to support
the mission for a period of five years.
At the end Of that time have no doubt
but that funds for the future will be
forthcoming.
am not the first ex-Christian to
preach in a Christian land. Lawyer
William II. Quillian became converted
to the faith during a sojourn to Nor
Deco and returned to lay the founda-
ton of the present Mohammedan col
ony in Liverpool. Many Americans
may not know that there is Moham-