USA Souvenir 1989 — Page 54
Mr. Muhammad Alexander Russel Webb- The First American Ahmadi Convert in Promised Messiah's Time Mr. Webb was born in 1846 in Hudson City, New York. His father was the owner and editor of a daily paper. The younger Webb took up his father's career in journalism after graduation. Later on, he became the editor of a daily paper in Missiouri. Mr. Webb was deeply interested in religion. However, he became dissatisfied with Christianity and gave it up in 1872. He researched other faiths in his discovery of the true religion. He studied Buddhism and did not find it satisfactory. He came across an announcement of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be on him and started correspondence with him. Through his communications with the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be on him, he became convinced of the truth of Islam. Mr. Webb then accepted Islam as his faith. He proved a sincere and devoted Muslim and was most eager to do whatever he could to spread the knowledge of Islam and its teachings in the United States. 54 The correspondence between The Promised Messiah and Mahdi , peace be on him , and Mr. Webb is reproduced below: (SHAHNAA E HAQ pp 439- 444): 3021 Easton Avenue St Louis, Missouri USA February 24th 1887 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Esteemed Sir , I cannot adequately express to you my gratitude for the letter recieved from you under the date of December 17. I had almost given up all hope of receiving a reply but the contents of the letter and circulars fully repaid me for the delay. I hardly know what to say in reply except that I am still very anxious to gain more of the truth than I have thus far found. After reading your circulars an idea occurred to me which I will