EXHIBIT 1-B

                                   EXHIBIT 1-B

                      ASTRA INSTITUTIONAL SECURITIES TRUST
           (formerly known as Pilgrim Institutional Securities Trust)

               AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

     The following  resolution  was passed by the Board of Trustees on March 17,
1995, and such resolution is in full force and effect:

          WHEREAS, paragraph 9.10 of an Acquisition Agreement, dated December 7,
     1994, among Express America Holdings Corporation, Pilgrim Group Inc.,
     Pilgrim Management Corporation, Pilgrim Distributors Corp. and Xxxxxxx
     Xxxxxxxxxx, provides that each of the Non-Acquired Funds concurrently with
     and conditional upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the
     Acquisition Agreement shall change its name to a name which shall not
     include the word "Pilgrim";

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement,  Pilgrim Institutional
     Securities Trust ("PIST") is deemed to be a Non-Acquired Fund;

          WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 8, of the Trust's Agreement and
     Declaration of Trust authorizes the Trustees to amend the Agreement and
     Declaration of Trust for the purpose of changing the name of the Trust
     without authorization by shareholder vote;

          WHEREAS, the Trustees deem it advisable to change the Trust's name
     from Pilgrim Institutional Securities Trust to Astra Institutional
     Securities Trust;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that PIST's name is hereby changed to
     Astra Institutional Securities Trust, effective upon closing of the
     transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and Declaration of
     Trust is filed with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of
     Massachusetts; and

          FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of the Trust are authorized to
     take all necessary steps to effect the name change, including amending the
     Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

                                                 
                                                By:  /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXX
                                                     ---------------------
                                                     Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
                                                     Secretary

Dated this 31st day of March, 1995