In a newly uncovered March 1887 letter, written just weeks after expressing to Ghulam Ahmad his great interest in Islam and willingness to spread it in America, Alexander Russell Webb had apparently changed his mind. At that point, he felt that it was better for Americans to stick to Christianity, and that Islam was the religion of "Asians".
Doubts, of course, are understandable. As far as Webb knew, no American had ever converted to Islam before. By converting, he would be setting himself up for ridicule and possibly be contributing to the division of people over religious dogma--something which he was strongly against. Nevertheless, within months, Webb would change his mind yet again. In September, he accepted a consular post in Manila, which he later claimed to have sought so that he could study "oriental" religions easier. By early 1889, Webb had taken the final step and embraced Islam.
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