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was therefore able rapidly to cultivate relations with a number of important
preachers, and, within a few weeks of his arrival, he was operating freely out of
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several of the most important Baptist churches in the community.
Despite his phenomenal ability to move the masses of the faithful, Costonie
was able to display an unusual religious modesty, making him more acceptable to
those Christians and secularists who were distrustful of extreme evangelical fervor.
As Clarence Mitchell wrote in the early fall of 1933, "his common sense really is
above the average. He doesn't pretend to be divine or superhuman and frankly
admits that he has his limitations." Costonie frequently stated that he had no idea
what the source of his faith-healing powers was. And, although he may have been
tailoring his message to his audience, during a speech to the Afro Club in early
September 1933, he went so far as to say that he hated the word "faith-healing," and
that "I don't have supernatural power." Also, he stated that "his power to heal the
sick by touch is merely used as an attraction to draw crowds so he can promulgate
his ideas of racial betterment.
In addition, Cos tonic's interest in racial betterment and political change also
distinguished him from other evangelists. After being splitting his time between
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and possibly other cities during the summer of 1933, he
firmly established himself in the Baltimore in early September, and his activities
took a decidedly political turn. By late September he was becoming widely known
as both a political and religious figure. Eleanor Burrell, who knew Costonie, later
observed that he may have been shocked by the conditions he found in Baltimore,
and, as a result, his main interest shifted from revivalism to protest. In fact, he once
remarked that "people here in Baltimore seem to be making preparations to die."
Nonetheless he felt that "Baltimore affords one of the greatest opportunities on
earth." Whatever the impulse behind his evolution, he rapidly became, as Eleanor
Burrell remarked, "an excellent community organizer.""
The nationalistic strain in Costonie's politics was open and evident. He
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