Korean historians have not been kind to the Rev. Dr. James Scarth Gale (1863-1937). Some have either ignorantly or deliberately misinterpreted or mistranslated Gale s writings. Such is true especially regarding the Japanese takeover of the Korean Empire in 1905-10. These same Korean historians had a clear agenda. They wanted all Western missionaries in Korea to be overtly anti-Japanese or outright independence fighters. In truth, Western missionaries could not be either and still be faithful to the pastoral care of their flocks, many of whom were first-generation Christians. The missionaries were placed in an awkward position.