Edmund Stoner Janes, an American clergyman, born in Sheffield, Mass., April 27, 1807. His early life was mostly spent in Salisbury, Conn. From 1824 to 1830 he was employed in teaching, and occupied his leisure in the study of the law, intending to follow that profession; but he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1830 joined the Philadelphia conference. From this time he devoted himself to the study of theology, and during the intervals of immediate pastoral labor he also read extensively in medicine. In May, 1840, he was appointed financial secretary of the American Bible society, and remained in this office till 1844, when he was elected bishop. During the 30 years of his episcopal labors Bishop Janes has been intrusted with some of the most grave and delicate duties connected with the affairs of the Methodist church, among which may be mentioned his appointment as delegate to the British Wesleyan conference in 1864, and the supervision and inspection of the Scandinavian, German, and Swiss missions in Europe from 1864 to 1868. In 1865 he visited England as delegate of the American Bible society to the British and foreign Bible society; and he also attended the French Wesleyan conference at Paris and the Irish conference at Cork. At Bremen he delivered before a large meeting an address on the death of President Lincoln, which was widely circulated in northern Europe, and had an important effect on public sentiment there at a critical period.

His residence has long been in New York city.