The late Harold D. Singleton (1908-2010), a prominent African-American Adventist church leader for many years, attributed the following "parable" to Sheafe in an interview with Alven Makepela, author of The Problem With Africanity in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in 1993. According to Singleton, Sheafe told the parable to explain his return to denominational service in 1913 despite racial injustice. He would allow the "white sheep" to walk accross his back "in order that both could be saved."
Once there was a sheep that was travelling on a very narrow precipitous mountain path. As the sheep was picking his way through the mountain pass he noticed that on the opposite side another sheep was approaching. As the two sheep neared each other, they began to eye one another intently. They knew that there was not enough space for both of them to pass. They stood there eying each other puzzled as to what to do next. In order to save both of them, the first sheep decided that he would kneel down and let the second sheep walk across his back. So the first sheep knelt down gently on the jagged path of the mountain making sure not to fall or be dissuaded by the protruding rocks that were pressing on under his belly. The second sheep, also making sure not to fall walked gingerly over the prostrate sheep and crossed over. At last they were both saved. They eyed each other once more and continued on their journey.
In Alven Makapela, The Problem With Africanity in the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Lewiston/Queenston/Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press, 1996), 228-229.
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