JOHN HANCOCK V.A. DISCOVERY FUND

                    Supplement to the following Prospectuses:

           John Hancock Variable Annuity Account JF dated May 1, 1997
                John Hancock Declaration Trust dated May 1, 1997
            John Hancock Variable Annuity Account H dated May 1, 1997



John Hancock V.A. Discovery Fund's name and certain investment  policies will be
changing effective January 2, 1998.

The Fund's new name will be John  Hancock  V.A.  Growth Fund and its  investment
objective and policies will be revised as follows:

      John Hancock V.A. Growth Fund's investment  objective is to seek long-term
      capital  appreciation.  The Fund invests principally in common stocks (and
      in securities  convertible  into or with rights to purchase common stocks)
      of companies which the Fund's management believes offer outstanding growth
      potential over both the intermediate and long term.

      The Adviser  will pursue the  strategy of  investing  in common  stocks of
      those  companies whose five-year  average  operating  earnings and revenue
      growth  are at least two times that of the  economy,  as  measured  by the
      Gross Domestic  Product.  Companies  selected will generally have positive
      operating earnings growth for five consecutive  years,  although companies
      without  a  five-year  record  of  positive  earnings  growth  may also be
      selected if, in the opinion of the Adviser,  they have significant  growth
      potential.

      When  management  believes  that  current  market or  economic  conditions
      warrant,  the Fund  temporarily  may  retain  cash or invest in  preferred
      stock, nonconvertible bonds or other fixed-income securities. Fixed income
      securities in the Fund's  portfolio  will generally be rated at least BBB,
      although  the Fund can invest up to 5% of net  assets in junk bonds  rated
      from "BB/Ba" to "C". For liquidity and flexibility, the Fund may invest up
      to 35% of net assets in cash or investment-grade short-term securities. In
      abnormal  market  conditions,  it  may  invest  more  than  35%  in  these
      securities  as a  defensive  tactic.  The  Fund may  make  short  sales of
      securities for hedging and speculative purposes.





September 10, 1997

VA00S2 9/97