""I was but a youth, and had no one to counsel with, but I felt that something ought to be done to help and inspire the young people."
"A group similar to the Hazelton missionary band was formed in 1891 in Antigo, Wisconsin, by Meade MacGuire. Looking back on the experience in later years, MacGuire said, "I was but a youth, and had no one to counsel with, but I felt that something ought to be done to help and inspire the young people. I had never heard of any young people's organization among our people, but acquaintances of mine attended meetings of the local Christian Endeavor Society and the Epworth League, and I felt that our own young people needed something of this kind as much as did those of other denominations.
"I proposed holding a young people's meeting, but my proposal was met with almost universal disapproval. However, the elder, a saintly old man, placed his hand on my shoulder and said, 'My boy, you go right ahead. You may have the church for your meeting, and I will stand by you."
I proposed holding a young people's meeting, but my proposal was met with almost universal disapproval. However, the elder, a saintly old man, placed his hand on my shoulder and said, 'My boy, you go right ahead. You may have the church for your meeting, and I will stand by you.'
The Antigo young people's society had 30 members, and their meetings were similar to the ones Luther Warren had organized in Hazelton. Along with singing, Bible study, and prayer, there was time for personal testimonies. Participation was wholehearted; MacGuire recalled that there was intense disappointment if even one member failed to testify, but that this hardly ever happened. Reflecting on the success of that early society and the initial reluctance of the church to support it, he commented: "I believe God restrained the enemy because He wanted this work to go forward, and the people were not sufficiently in favor of it to stand by us if mistakes were made." Elder's Digest, October 2005/ March 2006.
"Seven academy students and two church school students were buried in baptism on Sabbath, December 10, at the Columbia church with Elder L. S. Davis, principal, officiating. Along with the students, an adult member was baptized as a sign of her reconsecration. These baptisms were as a result of the wonderful Week of Prayer conducted by Elder Meade MacGuire."—Central Union Reaper, January 10, 1950
"The process began in 1922 when Arthur Daniells, General Conference president from 1901 to 1922, was not reelected to the
presidency. Chastened by his defeat, Daniells experienced a spiritual reawakening and when asked to guide the newly established Ministerial Commission (later called Association), he worked to instill within the ministry that which he believed he neglected as an administrator.
By 1926 Daniells was joined by Meade MacGuire, Mrs J. W. Mace, and LeRoy Froom. With his previous experience as editor of
Watchman, Froom was the prime mover in establishing a separate periodical for ministers—a move that resulted in its first issue in
1928. Until then the Review and Herald had been the chief medium of communication between the Association and the ministers."—Ministry, January 19
General Conference Bulletin, June 4, 1926
"Early in the development of the association, Elder Meade MacGuire was appointed associate secretary. In response to pressing requests from many sources for special efforts to deepen the spiritual life of workers in conferences and students in our schools, Brother MacGuire and I have held many revival efforts in various parts of the field. A number of the most impressive and helpful ministerial institutes in which it has ever been my privilege to take part, have been held in most of the union conferences in North America; and each year since the formation of the association, earnest work has been done in our colleges and academies for our young men and women. In these revival and reformatory efforts, thousands have been awakened to their situation — their spiritual feebleness, their formalism, and their great pressing need of a new life in Christ. They have not only been awakened and alarmed, but thousands have sought God for that new birth, without which, Jesus declares, they cannot see the kingdom of God. They have experienced a change of heart, and have entered into a new fellowship with Christ. During the past fall and winter the officers of the association have worked with the General Educational and Missionary Volunteer Departments in conduct- ing the largest and most powerful revival movement ever attempted in our history for our young people. Every college and seminary in North America was included in this program. In this great effort, more than 3,000 students received instruction and appeals designed to lead them to a deeper spiritual experience."—A. G. Daniells
"Elder MacGuire; one of the associate secretaries of the association, has spent his entire time in this field work. In addition to much earnest work done in North America, Brother MacGuire spent about two years in the Far Eastern Division, devoting his time, energies, and experience to the spiritual and intellectual uplift of our workers. His work has been quiet, deep, far-reaching, and lasting in effect, as is clearly indicated by the letters coming to our office from the workers, who tell of the new experience which has come into their lives as the result of this spiritual uplift work. In the Far East the Ministerial Association standard is firmly planted, and the messengers of the cross are advancing upon that mighty stronghold of the enemy in the power and joy of the personal presence of Christ.
"Meade MacGuire, long beloved for his evangelistic labors among the youth and for his deeply spiritual books, said he attended his first General Conference in 1895. Except for his periods of service in foreign lands, he has attended every General session of the church since." General Conferencer Bulletin, January, 1950