A memorial service and a symposium will commemorate the Rhythm Night Club fire on Monday at 5 p.m. at Britton & Koontz First National Bank in Natchez.

The program will be a little different this year, said Mary Toles, an Adams County Justice Court judge and one of the organizers of the activities.

&uot;We’ve uncovered so much more information about the fire recently that we decided a symposium would be a good idea,&uot; said Toles. &uot;We want to share what we have learned, especially about how so many in the community responded to the tragedy.&uot;

Because of work taking place at the bluff park where the memorial marker lists those more than 200 who died in the April 23, 1940, fire, the organizers of Monday’s memorial decided to hold all activities indoors and in one location, Toles said.

&uot;We’ll first have a short memorial program; then refreshments; and then we’ll have the symposium,&uot; she said.

Michael Winn, president of the Natchez Business & Civic League will preside at the memorial, where songs, devotions, lighting of the memorial candle and inspirational remarks by the Rev. Windell Greene of Fourth Street Church of Christ will make up the program.

Others taking part in the memorial service will be the Rev. John Quinn, Patricia Ponds, Don Washington and Berniece Wallace.

The Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Choir will sing, as will soloist Willie Minor. After a break for refreshments, the symposium will begin. Organizers have titled it &uot;The Natchez Community 1940: A Tragic Time.&uot;

&uot;We think this will be interesting to everyone, and we invite all the community to attend,&uot; Toles said.

Francis Ransom, vice president of the Business & Civic League, will preside. Speakers will cover topics such as &uot;The Worst Fire,&uot; presented by Geraldine Mackel Haynes; &uot;Patrons of the Dance,&uot; by Frank Robinson; &uot;The Rhythm Night Club Building,&uot; by Ozelle Fisher; and &uot;Impact of the Fire on this City, this State and this Nation,&uot; by Dr. Fredericka C. Todd. Other speakers will be Dwight Green, whose topic will be &uot;Could it Happen Again?&uot;; and Mary Toles, with &uot;The Band and its Sponsors.&uot;

Questions and answers will be encouraged between presentations, Toles said.