What did the Half-Way Covenant provide?

Answer 1

The original Puritans had a conversion experience and then became full members of the church. Then they were eligible to get married in a Puritan church, have their babies baptized, and be buried by the church.

When their babies became of legal age, they did not have the conversion experiences of the original Puritans. They still wanted to participate in the church rituals. The half way convenient was created for them. They would become church members but not voting church members unless and until they had a conversion experience. They could get married, get their children baptized, and get buried in the church.