What is a Divan?
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word has several meanings, but only one of which applies here: “in Oriental countries, a royal council or council room.” It is pronounced di-van, with emphasis on the second syllable. In the context of the Shrine, the Divan is the “board of directors” or “executive council” of the organization, and serves as the management team for both fraternal and business activities of the Temple. Each Shrine Temple has its own Divan, and the minimum number of Divan members is set by Imperial by-laws at five, with each of these being elected by the Nobility (membership). Therefore, all Shrine Temples have at least five members on the Divan, but some have seven, and some have ten. For most temples that have more than five members on the Divan, the additional positions are usually appointed by the Potentate. Like most Masonic organizations, the Divan is usually a “progressive” line, which means that one new person is appointed or elected to the line each year, t
The term divan is often used interchangeably with couch or sofa, but more specifically refers to a couch with pillows for its back and arms. A standard or traditional couch is designed with three seat cushions, cushioned arms or sides and a cushioned back. The back might be domed or square, but it extends high enough to support the entire back of a person seated on it. A divan can also have three seat cushions, but in most cases the back is very low and unpadded. The back serves instead to hold two or more large pillows in place. A divan that features two large pillows is used like a normal couch and the pillows resemble rectangular cushions. Other divan models hold several large throw pillows that encircle the back and sides and can be arranged for comfort as needed. The pillows on a divan account for the height of the couch and its back support. The sides are low and unpadded like the back, with smaller matching throw pillows used in lieu of arms. The pillowy look of a divan makes it
Originally, in the Orient a divan was a long seat consisting of a mattress that would be on the floor, or raised upon a frame, with cushions to lean against; similar to a couch or sofa. The term divan comes from the fact that they were generally found along the walls in Middle Eastern council chambers called divan or diwan. The came to Europe around the middle of the 18th century and was fashionable from 1820 to 1850, and all boudoirs of that generation had divans. They could even be found in coffee-houses, which were sometimes known as divans or Turkish divans. A standard or traditional couch is designed with three seat cushions, cushioned arms or sides and a cushioned back, a divan also has three seat cushions, but in most cases has a very low back with no padding to be used for large pillows to be thrown on top of and arranged as necessary. With the many pillows, usually thrown onto and decorating a divan the furniture became a piece of not only luxury but of comfort also. This asso
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word has several meanings, but only one of which applies here: “in Oriental countries, a royal council or council room.” Other sources say it originates from Persian, this term refering to a reception chamber, particularly in a palace or residence. It later came to mean ministry or government office. It can also mean anthology of poems placed in alphabetical order. It is pronounced di-van, with emphasis on the second syllable. (Note: if emphasis is placed on the first syllable, it’s meaning can change to “a large, low couch or sofa”) In the context of the Shrine, the Divan is the “board of directors” or “executive council” of the organization, and serves as the management team for both fraternal and business activities of the Temple. Each Shrine Temple has it’s own Divan, and the minimum number of Divan members is set by Imperial by-laws at five, with each of these being elected by the Nobility (membership). Therefore, all Shrine Temples have at l
