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