 Additionally, he was a member and president of the Maryland State Board of Education; an attorney for the Laurel Building Association; chancellor of the Washington Diocese of the Protestant Episcopal Church; vestryman of St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church in Laurel and superintendent of its Sunday school; member and past master of the Laurel Wreath Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; and member of the Law and Order Society of Laurel.Stanley served as a city commissioner for Laurel, Maryland from 1880 to 1882, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1883 to 1885, and mayor of Laurel from 1891 to 1893 (two terms).In 1911, Stanley was appointed by Governor Austin Lane Crothers as the Comptroller of Maryland to complete the term of William B. Clagett, who died in office after his own appointment to complete a predecessor's term.