'Vaccination is one of the most effective safeguards of society' said the D&S Times 150 years ago 'Vaccination is one of the most effective safeguards of society' said the D&S Times 150 years ago From the Darlington & Stockton Times of July 22, 1871 THE D&S Times of 150 years ago this week was concerned with two topics that still hog the headlines to this day. The lead letter was about taking the knee – before God, rather than before football matches. An anonymous correspondent railed against the disgraceful way modern people lounged forward onto the edge of their seats and held the back of the pew in front, rather than go the whole hog and lower their knees on the kneeler in front of them. “I call it a very clumsy apology” for kneeling, he said.