No society operating under or by virtue of this article shall pay a burial benefit or award other than in lawful money of the United States and any provision in any contract to the contrary shall be of no effect, nor shall any member of any society or representative or beneficiary of such member be required as a condition of his becoming a member, or otherwise, to purchase funeral supplies or burial services from any specified or designated person, firm or corporation so as to deprive the representative, beneficiary or family of any such member from procuring or purchasing said supplies and services in the open market.
215 ILCS 5/344