In the Spring of 1888 Rev. Stanford was appointed again to the pastorate, this time in Canton, Ohio (in his old home conference). During the eighteen months of his work there, he gathered a harvest of over one hundred souls. In 1889 Rev. Stanford was elected as Editor and Publisher of an independent church paper, "The Evangelical," with headquarters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He conducted the business of this periodical very successfully, especially during the stormy years (for his denomination) of 1890 and 1891.