JOHN HANCOCK INSTITUTIONAL SERIES TRUST
Supplement to Prospectus dated July 1, 1997
John Hancock Dividend Performers Fund
Currently, the John Hancock Dividend Performers Fund (the "Fund") may only
invest in common stocks that have a record of having increased their dividends
in each of the preceding ten or more years. However, the Fund's investment
management team desired to broaden its investable universe to include all
companies that exhibit stable earning growth. The Fund's core strategy of
investing in those will not change. In addition, its team leader, John F.
Snyder, III, who has been in place since the Fund's inception, will not change.
In order to accomplish this change the Prospectus is modified as follows:
Delete the third paragraph under the Dividend Performers Fund heading on page 12
and replace with the following:
The Fund currently uses a strategy of investing primarily in those common stocks
that have a record of having increased their dividends in each of the preceding
ten or more years.
June 1, 1998
KB0PS 6/98
