freemasonry was an influential semi-secret force in italian politics with a strong presence among professionals and the middle class across italy, as well as among the leadership in parliament, public administration, and the army. the two main organisation were the grand orient and the grand lodge of italy. they had 25,000 members in 500 or more lodges. freemasons took on the challenge of mobilizing the press, public opinion. and the leading political parties in support of italy’s joining the allies. traditionally, italian nationalism focused on unification, and undermining the power of the catholic church. in 1914-15 they dropped the traditional pacifistic rhetoric and used instead the powerful language of italian nationalism. freemasonry had always promoted cosmopolitan universal values, and by 1917 onwards they demanded a league of nations to promote a new post-war universal order based upon the peaceful coexistence of independent and democratic nations.