Thomas Baldwin Marsh's prophecy of the rising of a new church

While living in Boston around 1829, Thomas B. Marsh, having grown disillusioned with the Methodist Church and unable to reconcile its doctrines with the Bible, withdrew from all religious sects. As he prepared to leave Boston, his former class leader urged him to accept a certificate of membership, but Marsh declined, stating he no longer desired one. During this time, Marsh possessed a measure of the spirit of prophecy and informed the leader that he expected a new church would soon arise that would possess the truth in its purity. The class leader, suspecting that Marsh intended to become a leader in this new sect, expressed his skepticism. Marsh insisted he had no such intentions. In response, the leader prayed that the Lord would make Marsh a 'firebrand' in the midst of that new religious body, believing a reformation was necessary. Although Marsh remained firm in his decision not to return to his former denomination, his wife later secretly obtained a certificate of membership for them both without his knowledge; however, Marsh steadfastly refused to attend, though he offered to find a suitable class for his wife should she wish to join.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I withdrew from all sects, and being about to leave Boston, my old class leader wished me to take a good certificate, but I informed him I did not want it. I had a measure of the spirit of prophecy, and told him that I expected a new church would arise, which would have the truth in its purity. He said to me, 'You no doubt mean to be a leader in that new sect.' I told him I had no such intentions. He said he prayed that the Lord would make me a firebrand in the midst of that new religious body, as reformation was necessary. My wife, however, without my knowledge, obtained a certificate for us both, but I would not attend the class, though I told her I would find a class for her if she wished to join one.