Edward Granville Browne in his later life              The young E.G. Browne in Persian dress

During research on E. G. Browne at Cambridge University Library it was discovered that Browne made a number of presentations about the Baha'i Faith in England. On February 25th 1889, he gave a lecture to Pembroke College Literary Society - known as the 'Martlets' - during which the Faith was discussed at length. This was a semi-private meeting, but it qualifies as the earliest public mention of the Faith in the West.  In 1890, Bahá’u’lláh was visited by a distinguished orientalist, Professor Edward G. Browne, from the University of Cambridge. He describes his meeting with Bahá’u’lláh:

“During the morning of the day after my installation at Behjé one of Behá’s younger sons entered the room where I was sitting and beckoned to me to follow him. I did so, and was conducted through passages and rooms at which I scarcely had time to glance to a spacious hall, paved, so far as I remember (for my mind was occupied with other thoughts) with a mosaic of marble. Before a curtain suspended from the wall of this great ante-chamber my conductor paused for a moment while I removed my shoes. Then, with a quick movement of the hand, he withdrew, and, as I passed, replaced the curtain; and I found myself in a large apartment, along the upper end of which ran a low divan, while on the side opposite to the door were placed two or three chairs. Though I dimly suspected whither I was going and whom I was to behold (for no distinct intimation had been given to me), a second or two elapsed ere, with a throb of wonder and awe, I became definitely conscious that the room was not untenanted. In the corner where the divan met the wall sat a wondrous and venerable figure, crowned with a felt head-dress of the kind called táj by dervishes (but of unusual height and make), round the base of which was wound a small white turban. The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one’s very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow; while the deep lines on the forehead and face implied an age which the jet-black hair and beard flowing down in indistinguishable luxuriance almost to the waist seemed to belie. No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain!

“A mild dignified voice bade me be seated, and then continued: —‘Praise be to God that thou hast attained! . . . Thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile. . . We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment. . . That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled—what harm is there in this? . . . Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the “Most Great Peace” shall come. . . Do not you in Europe need this also? Is not this that which Christ foretold? . . . Yet do we see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind. . . These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family. . . Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind. . .’

“Such, so far as I can recall them, were the words which, besides many others, I heard from Behá. Let those who read them consider well with themselves whether such doctrines merit death and bonds, and whether the world is more likely to gain or lose by their diffusion.” (H. M. Balyuzi: “Edward Granville Browne and the Bahá’í Faith”, pp. 56-57)

Links to more information on Cambridge Professor Edward G. Browne:
http://bahai-library.com/?file=momen_encyclopedia_browne.html

http://www.upliftingwords.org/browne.htm

http://www.northill.demon.co.uk/relstud/browne.htm

http://www14.inetba.com/gryphon/item152947.ctlg

http://users.whsmithnet.co.uk/ispalin/heritage/firsts.htm

http://www.vohuman.org/Article/A%20Year%20Amongst%20the%20Persians.htm