It means friends who have good intentions, who do something because they mean well or are trying to be helpful.

Some further examples, chosen from a Google search of gutenberg.org (public domain books, mostly earlier than 1923) "the ever-recurring mistakes of well-meaning zealots..." "Seeing that the well-meaning man did not succeed..." "It was easy to see how immense was the blunder of this foolish but well-meaning man." "...well meaning, though misdirected arguments; which are, at best, but silly sophistry..." A priest commenting sadly about charity donations: "He rummaged in a big box and produced certain garments. 'My last consignment from a well-meaning London congregation,' he smiled, and flung out a heap of dresses, hats, stockings and shoes. 'If they'd sent a roll or two of print I might have used them.'" Of education: "his mind was in much the same state that you would be in... if you were operated upon for appendicitis by a well-meaning, boldly enterprising, but rather over-worked and under-paid butcher boy...—that is to say, it was in a thorough mess."

If I may add to Susan's answer... when I hear a phrase like "well MEANING" or "good INTENTIONS" there is often an implication that their well-meaning efforts are NOT really helpful. I expect to hear the word "BUT..." "The widow's well-meaning friends all brought her food, dozens of casseroles and roasts and home-baked walnut bread, but in her grief she could not eat a bite. The poor woman was frantic with anxiety because she did not want to waste it but her freezer was full."